Fire Throat: Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
At our Birdcraft Sanctuary we had seven individual Blackburnian Warblers in one day recently! Andy Griswold, director of our EcoTravel program, writes about the species.
What it looks like: One of the most strikingly colored of our wood-warblers, this species’ flaming orange throat was responsible for its colloquial name of “Fire Throat.” With yellow and black on its neck and face, black wings with a large fused white wing bar, and black streaks on a yellow to white belly, the male is unique among our North American warblers. Females are a muted version of the male, showing two narrower wing bars.
This bird was named after Anna Blackburne, an English botanist in the 1700s.
Where to find it: In recent days this species has made a good showing in Connecticut with as many as seven individuals being recorded for Connecticut Audubon Society’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield. Andy Rzeznikiewicz had Blackburnian on Sunday on his annual “20-Warbler Day” excursion in and around our Center at Pomfret (they actually found 22 species this year). Other places like East Rock in New Haven and park land with mature trees would be a good spot to look for this species.
How to find it: Blackburnian Warbler breeds in mature coniferous and mixed coniferous/deciduous forests. In migration look for this bird in almost any taller flowering tree, usually fairly high up but not always. It often sings from the highest tree tops.
What if it isn’t there: Being in at the peak of songbird migration, look for all those other migrant species passing through including Northern Parula, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Mourning Warbler, and Blackpoll Warbler. Of course you will likely find many of our nesting warbler species and should always keep in mind that southern vagrants like Kentucky, Prothonotary, and Swainson’s Warbler are possible. The Swainson’s Warbler would be a first state record. Learn its song!
Conservation status: Populations are considered stable with an estimated global breeding population of about 10 million. An individual recorded as the oldest banding recapture was at least eight years and two months old.
Photo: Carolinabirds.org
