Yellow-rumped Warbler
Encyclopedia
Four closely related North America
n bird forms—the eastern Myrtle Warbler
(ssp coronata), its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler
(ssp group auduboni), the northwest Mexican
Black-fronted Warbler (ssp nigrifrons), and the Guatemala
n Goldman's Warbler (ssp goldmani)—are periodically lumped as the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata).
has elected to merge these passerine
bird
s as one species. The Myrtle form was apparently separated from the others by glaciation during the Pleistocene
, and the Audubon's form may have originated more recently through hybridization between the Myrtle Warbler and the Mexican nigrifrons form.
west to the Pacific, and southward from there into Western Mexico
. "Goldman's" Yellow-rumped Warbler is endemic to the highlands of Guatemala
. The Myrtle and Audubon's forms are migratory
, traveling to the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for winters. Among warblers it is one of the last to leave North America
in the fall, and among the first to return. It is an occasional vagrant to the British Isles
and Iceland
.
, resembles Audubon's but has a white lower border to the yellow throat and otherwise darker plumage; males replace the slate blue of Audubon's with black.
These birds are primarily insectivorous, although when bugs are scarce, the Myrtle Warbler also enjoys eating the wax-myrtle
berries which gave it its name. They often flit, flycatcher
-like, out from their perches in short loops, in search of insects.
They nest in coniferous and mixed woodlands, and lay 4–5 eggs in a cup-shaped nest.
The Yellow-rumped has a trill-like song of 4–7 syllables (tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew,tew-tew-tew) and an occasional check or chip call note.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n bird forms—the eastern Myrtle Warbler
Myrtle Warbler
The Myrtle Warbler is a small New World warbler.This passerine bird was long known to be closely related to its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler, and at various times the two forms have been classed as separate species or grouped as Yellow-rumped Warblers, Dendroica coronata...
(ssp coronata), its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler
Audubon's Warbler
The Audubon's Warbler, Dendroica coronata auduboni, is a small New World warbler.This passerine bird was long known to be closely related to its eastern counterpart, the Myrtle Warbler, and at various times the two forms have been classed as separate species or grouped as the Yellow-rumped Warbler,...
(ssp group auduboni), the northwest Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Black-fronted Warbler (ssp nigrifrons), and the Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n Goldman's Warbler (ssp goldmani)—are periodically lumped as the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata).
Classification
Since 1973, the American Ornithologists' UnionAmerican Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
has elected to merge these passerine
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s as one species. The Myrtle form was apparently separated from the others by glaciation during the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
, and the Audubon's form may have originated more recently through hybridization between the Myrtle Warbler and the Mexican nigrifrons form.
Distribution
The Yellow-rumped Warbler breeds from eastern North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
west to the Pacific, and southward from there into Western Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. "Goldman's" Yellow-rumped Warbler is endemic to the highlands of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The Myrtle and Audubon's forms are migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, traveling to the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for winters. Among warblers it is one of the last to leave North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the fall, and among the first to return. It is an occasional vagrant to the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
Description
In summers, males of both forms have streaked backs of black on slate blue, white wing patches, a streaked breast, and conspicuous yellow patches on the crown, flank, and rump. Audubon's Warbler also sports a yellow throat patch, while the Myrtle Warbler has a white throat and eye stripe, and a contrasting black cheek patch. Females of both forms are more dull, with brown streaking front and back, but still have noticeable yellow rumps. Goldman's Warbler, of GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, resembles Audubon's but has a white lower border to the yellow throat and otherwise darker plumage; males replace the slate blue of Audubon's with black.
These birds are primarily insectivorous, although when bugs are scarce, the Myrtle Warbler also enjoys eating the wax-myrtle
Myrica
Myrica is a genus of about 35–50 species of small trees and shrubs in the family Myricaceae, order Fagales. The genus has a wide distribution, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, and missing only from Australasia...
berries which gave it its name. They often flit, flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
-like, out from their perches in short loops, in search of insects.
They nest in coniferous and mixed woodlands, and lay 4–5 eggs in a cup-shaped nest.
The Yellow-rumped has a trill-like song of 4–7 syllables (tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew,tew-tew-tew) and an occasional check or chip call note.
External links
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Information and Photos – South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Picture link