An Activity Guide About the Songbirds of British Columbia Family PARULIDAE: Wood Warblers

FIELD MARKS There are 33 species of warblers in British Columbia. Some are brightly coloured, others are shades of light green. These active little birds have thin, sharp bills. Although their name seems to suggest it, they do not warble. There is usually a distinct difference in colouration between male and female warblers. They also look considerably different in the fall after they molt; usually a lot plainer. For these reasons, the warblers are a popular challenge for birdwatchers. FOOD Warblers forage in trees and bushes mainly for insects. Some also eat berries and nectar. There can be as many as five different species in the same area, feeding on the same type of food. They avoid competition by foraging in different ways. For example, one may feed at the tips of branches while another feeds close to the trunk. HABITAT All warblers in our province are migratory. They spend the summer in our northern forests and travel to the tropics in the winter. NESTING Some warblers nest in cavities in trees. Others nest in a variety of places from the forest floor to the treetops. The cup-shaped nests are usually built by the female. She also incubates the eggs, but both female and male work together to feed the young. STATUS Warblers that migrate to the tropics in the winter are affected by the clearing of their tropical forest habitats. Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)