Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Arctic Warbler
Pouillot boréal
Phylloscopus borealis
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) is one of the lesser seen warblers in North America. It nests in Alaska and is found mostly in the tundra scrubland. This brown and greenish bird is common throughout the northern regions of Eurasia.
Distinctions: The male and female are very similar looking in appearance. It has a prominent white supercilium extending beyond the back of the eye. A greenish tone to the upper plumage, small white wingbar and is sometimes hard to distinguish. Off-white breast with a brownish tone on its flanks. It is similar in appearance to the Willow and Dusky Warblers but has the largest bill of the three. KIt migrates back into Eurasia during the winter months. A small number of these birds have been identified along the western states as far as California.
Voice: Nasal or buzzy tone notes. Sings from a high perch, easy to be find and identify, continuous call notes.
Nesting: Three to five white eggs, pink or reddish-brown spots. Suspended from a fork in branches of a tree or shrub. The nest is shaped in the form of a dome with an entrance on the side and is composed of fine grasses, leaves, feathers and hair.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of North American Warblers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5" 12.7cm | 8" 20.3cm | 0.35oz 9.9g | Phylloscopidae | Phylloscopus borealis |
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: The Arctic Warbler is seen only in Alaska, except on the very rare occasions, when it is seen in the southern states bordering the Pacific Ocean. It nests along the western side of Alaska with an extension reaching eastward into the Fairbanks area. It can be viewed along the Denali Highway. The Kamchatka Leaf Warbler is a split from the Arctic Warbler and both bird species are similar to each other.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
