Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Paruline grise
Setophaga nigrescens
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica castanea) is found in the mountains of western North American. This warbler can be seen low in the shrubs or high in coniferous or deciduous trees. It adapts well to the moderate weather conditions of British Columbia or the hot dry weather conditions of the Sky Island mountains of Arizona. It is known to visit, in small numbers, areas of eastern North America in late fall during its migration periods. It is similar to the Black and White Warbler, but does not share the same territories in North America and has a different foraging style. It also has some similarities to the Blackpoll Warbler, but again, does not share the same regions in North America.
Distinctions: The male and female share similarities. The male has a black crown, cheeks, throat and black streaking on its flanks, its back is gray with black stripes, black tail with white showing on the outer edges. Both sexes have yellow lores, but only an area in front of their eyes. Both sexes also have prominent white superciliums and two white wingbars and white undertails. The female and juvenile may have a slightly black throat, or none at all, they will also have streaking on their flanks. The female and juveniles will have more gray showing overall rather than black.
Voice: Chipping call, slow and heavy notes, songs sound like "buss see", repeated over and over by continuous calling.
Nesting: Three to five white to creamy-coloured eggs with brown markings. Prefers to build its nest in a dry area, might be found in a deciduous or coniferous forest, chaparral, scrubs, oak or pinyon woodland. The nest is composed of leaves, mosses, and lines with fine grasses and hair.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of the North American Warblers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5" 12.7cm | 7.75" 19.9cm | 0.35 oz 9.9g | Parulidae | Setophaga nigrescens |
North American Bird Calls
- Click to hear Choice 1
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found on Vancouver Island and the southern regions of British Columbia, south through the mountain regions to southern California, east to New Mexico, except portions of California and western Arizona and north to Colorado. Spends its winter in Mexico and Central America.
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.
