Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warblers usually forage within ten feet of the ground, darting after flying insects or hovering in mid-air to glean insects from leaves. They also sometimes feed on the ground, probing the leaf litter for prey.

The tiny Wilson's Warbler is an energetic bird that often makes a circular motion with its tail or wags it up and down. This tame and curious bird will usually approach at the sound of birders' spishing. When found on the nest, a Wilson's Warbler will typically sit tight. If flushed off the nest, it may return quickly even in an observer's presence. Wilson's Warblers eat mainly insects (especially leafhoppers) and spiders, but they occasionally consume berries as well.

In the East, Wilson's Warblers are relatively uncommon migrants making their way from the highlands of Central America to breed in the thickets and sphagnum bogs of the northern boreal forest. In the West they have a more extensive range and are often one of the most common warbler species. The breeding range extends north to the limit of trees from Alaska to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and in the West south to northern Arizona and southern California. Typical habitat is relatively wet, with dense ground cover and understory. For example, in mountainous areas of the West, Wilson's Warblers breed along streams and lakes, in willow and alder thickets, and in alpine meadow edges up to the tree line. Pacific Coast populations use dense conifer forests where openings allow for the growth of a shrub layer. They also breed in the understory of moist broadleaf woodlands, thickets, and open coastal scrub. In migration Wilson's Warblers can be found in a variety of shrubby habitats including suburban hedges and gardens.
Wilson's Warbler Range Map

Wilson's Warblers usually nest on the ground, often hiding their nests under overhanging foliage at the base of a shrub or clump of grass. In especially favorable habitats, nests may be so close together as to resemble loose colonies. Females build the relatively large and bulky nest out of dead leaves, shredded bark and grass, and a lining of grass and hair. Four to six eggs (rarely two to seven) are incubated for eleven to twelve days. The young leave the nest when they are about ten days old. The song of the Wilson's Warbler is a rapid staccato chattering that accelerates toward the end. Eastern birds tend to sing a descending song while western birds typically sing on one pitch, increasing in volume. The call note is a low-pitched "chet" much like the call of a Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes).

Description: Wilson's Warblers are tiny (4 1/2" - 5") warblers with small bills and relatively long thin tails. With the exception of the males' shiny black cap, present to a variably lesser extent on the females, they lack obvious field marks. Forehead, face and underparts are lemon yellow, and upper parts are olive. The black eye stands out on the plain face. The races of Wilson's Warblers found in the East and West differ slightly in plumage, with those in the West being more golden underneath and more yellow above.

Non-breeding females lacking a dark cap are similar to female Hooded Warblers (W. citrina) but are smaller and plumper. Hooded Warblers have white at the sides of the tail and undertail coverts, while Wilson's Warblers lack any white in the tail and have yellow undertail coverts. The tiny feathers between the eye and bill, or lores, are dark in Hooded Warblers and light in Wilson's Warblers.

The Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) is similarly undistinguished by prominent field marks, but has a thinner and sharper bill and a dark line through the eye. It is generally much duller and often shows indistinctly streaked underparts. Orange-crowned Warblers do not flip their tails as do Wilson's Warblers.

Some Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) may be uniformly yellow but have white edges on the tertials and wing coverts and yellow spots on the tail.


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