Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Black-and-white Warbler
Paruline noir et blanc
Mniotilta varia
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotila varia) is one of the most abundant warblers seen in North America. It is recognized by its nuthatch-like behaviour of creeping along trunks and limbs and picking out larvae and insects from beneath the bark. Because of its food source, this warbler is one of the first in the warbler family, to migrate back to its breeding grounds in the spring.
Distinctions: The male and female both have black and white stripes through their crowns. The male also has black streaks along the flanks, black wings with two strong white wingbars and a black throat. The female and juvenile have similar features but duller in appearance, showing signs of a buffier brown body, lacking the black throat patch. Both sexes have rather large bills with a noticeable downward curve. The Black-throated Gray Warbler has some similar features but is not likely to be seen in the same regions of North America. The Blackpoll Warbler also has some similar features but only in the springtime, when it is in breeding plumage.
Voice: Whining or complaining long notes, thin high pitch sounding like weesy-weesy-weesy-weesy.
Nesting: Three to five white to creamy coloured eggs, with brown markings. Nest is usually on the side of a hill, on the ground or near the base of a tree. The nest is composed of fine grasses, leaves, conifer needles, moss and hair.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of the North American Warblers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.25" 13.3cm | 8.25" 21cm | 0.4oz 11.3g | Parulidae | Mniotilta varia |
Black-and-white Warbler Calls
- Click here to hear Choice 1
- Click here to hear Choice 2
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found throughout Newfoundland, west through the lower 2/3rd of the Canadian provinces, from Quebec into Alberta, north into the Northwest Territories, touching into the Yukon, south all the way to eastern Texas, east to the Atlantic Ocean, north through all the states and all of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
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.
