Pine Warbler

Overview

The pine warbler (Setophaga pinus) is a small songbird within the New World warbler family Parulidae. It is a permanent resident in the southeastern United States and a migratory species in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Identification

• Plumage: White bellies, two white wing bars, and yellowish 'spectacles' around the eyes; adult males have olive upperparts with bright yellow throats and breasts, while females and immatures have olive-brown upperparts and paler underparts.
• Structure: Dark legs and a thin, relatively long pointed bill.
• Vocalisation: The song consists of a musical trill, and calls are described as slurred chips.

Habitat

Breeding habitats consist of open pine woods in eastern North America. While permanent residents in southern Florida, some individuals migrate to northeastern Mexico and islands in Bermuda and the Caribbean, with a rare vagrant record from Colombia.

Diet

Primarily consuming insects, seeds, and berries, the pine warbler forages slowly on tree trunks and branches by poking its bill into pine cones. It also searches for food on the ground.

Did you know?

Unlike other wood-warblers, the pine warbler occasionally consumes seeds in addition to its typical insect-based diet.