Black-and-white warbler

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Speciesbox The black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia) is a species of New World warbler, and the only member of its genus, Mniotilta. It breeds in northern and eastern North America and winters in Florida, Central America, and the West Indies down to Peru. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.<ref name=Curson/> Relative to other New World warblers, it is not well studied.<ref name=":1" />

Taxonomy

The black-and-white warbler was formally described in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Motacilla varia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=paynter>Template:Cite book</ref> The specific epithet is from Latin varius meaning "various", "diverse" or "variegated".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Linnaeus based his entry of the "small black and white bird" that had been described by the Irish physician Hans Sloane in 1725 and "Le Figuier varié de S. Domingue" that had been described by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1760.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book The two stars (**) at the start of the section indicates that Brisson based his description on the examination of a specimen.</ref> Linnaeus specified the location as Jamaica and Dominica but this was restricted to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic by the American Ornithologists' Union in 1910.<ref name=paynter/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The black-and-white warbler is now the only species placed in the genus Mniotilta that was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1816.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=ioc>Template:Cite web</ref> The genus name combines the Ancient Greek μνιον/mnion meaning "seaweed" (clearly an error for μνιοεις/mnioeis meaning "moss") and τιλλω/tillō meaning "to pluck".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.<ref name=ioc/>

The black-and-white warbler is known to hybridize with the cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea) and Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca). However, it is not closely related to the genus Setophaga.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Columbus Park – Chicago

Description

The black-and-white warbler is Template:Convert to Template:Convert in length with a mass of Template:Convert to Template:Convert grams.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Wingspan ranges from 7.1 to 8.7 in (18–22 cm).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> True to their name, black-and-white warblers are black and white in colour. Both sexes have black and white crowns with a white eyebrow, black streaking on a white belly, black wings with two white wing bars, a black tail, a black-and-white streaked back, streaky undertail coverts, and grey-black legs and feet. Breeding males have a black-and-white streaked throat and black cheek, while females have a grey cheek and a white-cream coloured throat and sides. First fall males are very similar to adult females in colour and patterning, while first fall females resemble adult females but with less streaking and a more noticeable buffy wash. Juveniles are heavily spotted, but are similar to first fall individuals otherwise.<ref name=":2" />

This species is Template:Convert long and weighs Template:Convert.<ref name="Sibley">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1" /> The summer male black-and-white warbler is boldly streaked in black and white, and the bird has been described as a flying humbug.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Each wing is black with two white wing bars. Female and juvenile plumages are similar, but duller and less streaky than males.

This warbler can be confused with the blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata). The blackpoll warbler is also black and white in its summer plumage, but has a solid black cap. The black-and-white warbler can also be confused behaviourally with the pine warbler (Setophaga pinus) and yellow-throated warbler (Setophaga dominica).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Distribution and habitat

The black-and-white warbler breeds in northern and eastern North America. It ranges from the Northwest Territories to the northwest and Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, to North Carolina to the southeast and Texas to the southwest. This species is migratory, wintering in Florida, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America down to Peru.<ref name=":1" /> The IUCN estimates the extent of occurrence, or range, to be 11,500,000 km2.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> It occurs as a vagrant in Iceland, Ireland, Faeroes, and the UK.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is a migratory species, breeding in North America and wintering in North and South America. It is typically found in deciduous forest in its breeding range, but becomes more of a habitat generalist in the non-breeding season.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Black-and-white warbler

The species occupies a broad niche, and is found in a variety of habitats. In its breeding habitat, it prefers mature forest, but will occupy successional and second growth forest. Preferred forest types include deciduous and mixed forest, and this warbler sometimes occupies swampy forest. During migration, this species prefers forest to other land cover types and is frequently found in riparian areas. In its wintering habitat, it can be found in a variety of land cover types, from mangroves to wet, dry, and cloud forest. It occupies both successional and mature forest.<ref name=":1" /> It has also been noted to winter in shade coffee plantations and gardens.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Males are territorial in both their summer and winter habitats.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Behaviour

Vocalization

Breeding male

The black-and-white warbler has a high-pitched song, described as a repeating Template:Not a typo that is repeated at least six times in succession. It has a chip call as well as a Template:Not a typo call that is sometimes given in flight.<ref name=":2" /> Its song is a high Template:Not a typo or Template:Not a typo. It has two calls, a hard Template:Not a typo and a soft, thin Template:Not a typo.<ref name=Curson>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Sibley" />

Food and feeding

The black-and-white warbler feeds on insects and spiders, and, unlike other warblers, forages like a nuthatch, moving up and down tree trunks and along branches.<ref name="Sibley" /> It feeds in a manner similar to a nuthatch or a creeper. It forages on tree trunks and limbs to feed on insects below the bark's surface.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref> Its short legs and long hind toe are adaptations to this foraging method.<ref name=":3" /> The black-and-white warbler is unique among warblers in its time spent foraging on tree trunks and inner branches.<ref name=":1" /> This bird also gleans, like many warblers, for insects.<ref name=":2" /> Its diet is composed of insects and other arthropods, including lepidopteran larvae, beetles, ants, and spiders.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> During migration and breeding, this warbler relies heavily on lepidopteran larvae.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> During migration, the black-and-white warbler sometimes joins mixed flocks to feed.<ref name=":3" />

Breeding

The black-and-white warbler is of the first warblers to arrive to its spring breeding grounds.<ref name=":3" /> In the southernmost range of its breeding habitat, it can begin breeding mid-April. Males are territorial and defend their territory, both by singing and chasing competitors away. When a female arrives in a male's territory, he pursues her in an effort to breed. The male may display by flapping his wings.<ref name=":1" />

Black-and-white warbler visits Central Park in New York City

It breeds in broadleaved or mixed forest, preferably in wetter areas. Black-and-white warblers nest on the ground, laying four or five eggs in a cup nest.<ref name="Curson" /> The nest is cup-shaped, often located on the ground among roots or against a tree, or in crevices on tree stumps. The species prefers to nest in damp areas. The nest is constructed with grassy material, bark, and dry leaves, and lined with softer material such as moss and hair. The female is responsible for most of the nest-building.<ref name=":1" /> The female lays four or five eggs,<ref name="Curson" /> which are light brown and speckled with darker brown. The female begins incubating once the last or second-to-last egg is laid. Incubation lasts 10 to 12 days, and is done solely by the female. During incubation, the female is sometimes fed by the male. Both parents care for the nestlings. The young fledge after 8 to 12 days, and stay around the nest while they improve their flight ability. During this time, the parents remain nearby.<ref name=":1" /> This species generally produces one brood per year.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The nests are sometimes parasitized by the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3"/>

Conservation status

The IUCN classifies the black-and-white warbler as Least Concern due to its large range and population size. However, its population is decreasing.<ref name=":0" /> Habitat loss and degradation, especially forest fragmentation, are the main factors contributing to the species' decline. If habitat loss continues, in either or both summer or wintering habitat, the species may continue to decline in the future.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Pesticides such as fenitrothion and phosphamidon have contributed to the species' decline in the 1970s,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and others such as chlorinated hydrocarbons may continue to have an effect.<ref name=":1" />

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category Template:Wikispecies


Template:Passeroidea Template:Taxonbar

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Black-and-white_warbler&oldid=261731"