Warbler Guy, does the spring Blackpoll Warbler migration distance equal its long distance trek in the fall?

Yes, Amy (in Baton Rouge), for some populations, Blackpoll’s north and southward migration routes are likely the longest of all wood-warbler family members. The well-noted 2,150 autumn migration distance some New England Blackpoll partake in the autumn as trans-ocean migrants is a breathtaking marvel. Seventy-two to 90 continuous hours of migration over the ocean by a half-ounce bird seems an impossible feat. But imagine the current spring-time migrants (see graphic, courtesy of the borealbirds.org and the map created by eNature, which is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts). Some travel 100-150 miles per night, with some doing so for weeks and eventually reaching Alaska after beginning their path in n. South America. Equally awe-inspiring, correct?

Warbler Quiz Answers: Latest Ones On Right Side Of This Page

You're a warbler quiz wiz?

You be the judge, as here's the answers to the most recent warbler quizzes (that appear on the right column as you scroll down from one to the next).

- Quiz Question:
(Myrtle) Yellow-rumped Warbler are one of the initial wood-warblers to return at northern latitudes in the USA because:

ANSWER: all of the above

- Quiz Question:

Unlike the majority of USA warblers that are trans-gulf migrants, the following species shuns over-water flight and, instead, uses C. Am. & Mexico to reach USA breeding grounds:

ANSWER: Nashville Warbler

- Quiz Question:

Which wood-warbler is documented to periodically eat fish?

ANSWER: Louisiana Waterthrush

- Quiz Question:

By the first week of March, which returning wood-warbler is the second or third most abundant wood-warbler species in the USA?

ANSWER:

Orange-crowned Warbler, as the majority of West Coast neotropical migrants typically return to breeding grounds by early to mid-March (with the initial pulse often occurring in late February, depending on latitude).

Did you see the warbler chapter in the newly updated book by Kenn Kaufman, A Field Guide to Advanced Birding?

Yes, Amy (in Orlando): Kenn Kaufman’s update (from his original and now classic original A Field Guide to Advanced Birding) hosts an excellent chapter devoted to wood-warblers titled “Learning to Identify Warblers”

This insightful chapter is divided into subthemes such as “How To Look At Warblers,” “Learning The Groups of Warblers,” “What To Look For In Identifying Warblers,” and “Understanding What You Hear: Warbler Voices.”

Especially well done is Kaufmann’s explanation of warbler songs that he notes consists of two major song types in many warbler species.

He also expertly delineates the difficult autumn plumage ID challenge of the “Blackpoll Trio” consisting of Blackpoll Warbler, Bay-Breasted Warbler, and Pine Warbler.

HEY Warbler Guy: When's "Peak" Warbler Watching in Florida During Spring? Warblers in Florida Are Common Now?

Indeed, Michael in Mobile, AL:

Note the current Prime Time Parade of warblers in Florida needs a new publicity director?

Or maybe the following excerpt from a post by Mr. John Thornton at Birding On The Net will get people's warbler watching passion to boil over with intrigue?:

Subject: Leu and Mead Gardens (4/20/11)
From: John Thomton
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:20:29 -0500

Hey everyone,

It's peak migration now, so I thought if I'm a birder worth my salt, I better
be out there if I had the chance! I did make myself go running this morning
before birding, because I knew I wouldn't want to in the heat of the day AFTER
birding. Consequently I arrived at Leu at about 9:45 AM and then at Mead around
1:00 PM (left about 2:30). It wasn't crazy today, but never boring. There was
so much breeding bird activity, I was always entertained even if it wasn't a
non-stop migrant show. I did hear the Yellow-Breasted Chat at Mead briefly and
I saw him flush, but I never got a good look. Here's the warbler species list:

Northern ParulaCape May Warbler (1 male,
Leu)Black-Throated Blue Warbler (2, 1 male and 1 female, Leu)Blackpoll Warbler
(1 female, Leu)Black-and-White Warbler (3, Leu; 2, Mead)American Redstart (1
female, Leu; 2 males, Mead)Ovenbird (1, Leu)Common Yellowthroat (1, Leu; 1,
Mead)Yellow-Breasted Chat (mostly heard only, not good looks like at Orlando
Wetlands a few weeks ago.

It's still been a thrush-less spring migration for me, so far. Also I was a
little surprised I couldn't come up with a Turkey Vulture for the day!

Leu Gardens is located near the intersection of US 17/92 (Mills Ave.) and
Virginia Ave. in northern Downtown Orlando. There is an entrance fee for
non-members (but again, if you are a member of your local botanical gardens or
arboretum, you may get reciprocal free entry). Mead Garden is located near the
intersection of US-17/92 (Orlando Ave.) and Orange Ave. in Winter Park. There
is no entrance fee.

Good birding,
John ThomtonOrlando, Orange Co.

Warbler Guy: Is it true that proposed changes by the AOU may drastically change the classification of wood-warblers?

Yes, that's the "flash" news scroll across my Warbler Network TV cable station, too....though NO "flash" scroll new for folks reading this blurb and ALREADY updated from the American Birding Association's (ABA) BIRDING
MAGAZINE “News And Notes”section
(March, 2011, page 25-26) relating to:

The switch of 21 species in largest USA-based wood-warbler genus — Dendroica — to the current American Redstart genus, Steophaga.
In the new grouping (or clade, the technical term),
all of these 21 species join
N. Parula, Tropical Parula,
Am. Redstart, and Hooded Warbler.

Obviously, bye-bye to Dendroica and hello to Setophaga on the leader board for wood-warblers,
IF this new classification scheme proposed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s
Irby J. Lovette and his 11 colleagues is approved.

Worse (and get out the hanky), Yellow-breasted Chat will no longer be considered a wood-warbler, IF the proposed changes happen.

Stay tuned.

One last, brief update…..Instead of 115 New World wood-warblers
{per Dunn & Garrett’s theory in Warblers, their 1997 field guide
(in need of updating, by the way)},
Lovette, et al propose 107 species as New World wood-warbler members.
These form 14 genera, they suggest.

(NOTE: One Dendroica genus member, the Yellow-rumped Warbler, has four subspecies associated with it. For the latest report about this name division, see the article at this blog dated 3/7/11 "CORRECT Yellow-Rumped Warbler Species Name Update....")

WARBLER GUY: Was that you I saw in the Minny-apple Tribune?

Yes, Amy: I'm now highlighted beyond my photos on post office walls, as, it's true:

The Minneapolis Tribune and its venerable outdoor/naturalist columnist Jim Williams
evidently think people like wood-warblers.

Who woulda thunk? -- and, indeed, you can see me featured in all true modesty at:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/blogs/119534269.html

Good warbler watching, everyone.....Daniel, The Warbler Guy:
edelstein@earthlink.net
warblerwatch.com

Warbler Quiz #6: Test Your Warbler Migration, Warbler Behavior, and Warbler Identification (Warbler ID) Skills (Answers at bottom of this article.)

a. True or False: Female wood-warblers never sing?

b. Fill in the blank: Beyond insects, warblers primarily eat two other general kinds of food: seeds & XXX (Please type your answer here).

c. True or False: All North American (New World) warblers migrate?

d. Choose one answer from the two options in the following question: In addition to approximately 52 species of warblers breeding in the United States north of Mexico, there’s a (smaller) (larger) number of species that breed in the tropics?

e. True or False: Some warblers species travel more than 100 miles per night during migration?

Answers:

a. At least two female New World wood-warbler species are believed to sing:
Yellow and American Redstart.

b. Fruit

c. False. Common Yellowthroat {a common breeder/nester in every USA state (except HI) and Canadian province) does not migrate from SOME of the places where it breeds in southern portions of its breeding range} is one example of a non-migrating wood-warbler species.

d. Larger (107 New World wood-warblers exist, so a greater/larger number occur as nesters in the tropics than the number breeding in the United States north of Mexico.)

e. True. Depending on many factors, including weather and wind, some neotropical songbird migrants (including warblers) may travel as much as 100-150 miles on a single night’s migration.