Kirtland's Warbler
Dendroica kirtlandii
Photo by Ron Austings
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What to look and listen for:
This fairly large warbler is blue-gray above, yellow below, and
heavily streaked with black on its back and sides. Its white
eye-ring does not completely circle the eye and its wingbars are
faint. The Kirtland's warbler is a loud and persistent singer on its
breeding territory, though studies have shown that males sing during
spring migration, from the Carolinas, northward. The song, which
sounds like the chip-chip-che-way-o, is described as clear and not
buzzy as many other warbler songs. The Kirtland's warbler has a
habit of wagging or bobbing its tail.
When and where to look:
This warbler, classified as an endangered species, nests only in a
now strictly protected area in north-central Michigan. Its preferred
habitat is in stands of young jack pines, where it nests on the
ground. Kirtland's warblers arrive in Michigan in early May and
depart between August and October for their wintering grounds in the
Bahamas.
Feeding Behavior:
These warblers forage on the ground and low in trees, where they
glean or flycatch small insects such as sawflies, grasshoppers, and
moths. Ripe fruits are also eaten, especially on the wintering
grounds. Nestlings are fed a mix of insects and soft fruits.
Nesting Behavior:
Kirtland's warblers form pairs about a week after arriving on the
breeding grounds in mid-May. By the last week of May, weather
permitting, egg laying begins. Eggs hatch in mid-June after a
two-week incubation period. Young birds fledge after about nine
days. Brown-headed cowbirds are a major threat to the nesting
success of these warblers. A female cowbird can access and lay her
egg in an unattended Kirtland's nest and depart within 15 seconds.
She may return later to remove warbler eggs to enhance the survival
of her own offspring. Cowbird nestlings hatch earlier and are larger
than warbler young, and so they are much more likely to survive in
times of cold weather and food shortage. Efforts to control cowbirds
have increased nesting success for Kirtland's warbler.
Source: The Birds of North America, Vol. 1, No. 19, 1992. ANSP
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