Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Blackpoll Warbler
Paruline rayée
Setophaga striata
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) is one of the last warbler species to return to the northern breeding grounds in the spring. Like the Bay-breasted Warbler, the Blackpoll Warbler has a totally and unrecognizable look when seen in its non-breeding plumage. Both changing from attractive colourful field markings to drab yellow and green plumage. This is a long range migrating bird, as it crosses the Caribbean Sea right into South America.
Distinctions: The male has a black crown and black malar stripes, black streaking on flanks, wings and tail. White cheeks and two bold white wingbars, with brownish streaking on the back. The female has two white wingbars as well, but not as strong. Overall, when seen in breeding plumage, the female is off-white with dark and light brown streaks. During the winter months, when seen in non-breeding plumage, the female and male change to greenish-yellow plumage, quite similar to the Bay-breasted Warbler, when seen in non-breeding plumage too. Only the Black and White Warbler is similar to the Blackpoll Warbler, and this is so, only in the springtime.
Voice: Chipping call, high pitch continuous notes, sound like zi-zi-zi-zi, notes increase in volume as bird sings.
Nesting: Three to five white to creamy coloured eggs, with brown or black markings. Its nest is usually built in a shrub or a small conifer and the nest is composed of twigs, mosses, rootlets, lined with fine grasses and hair.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of the North American Warblers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5" 14cm | 9" 22.9cm | 0.5oz 14.2g | Parulidae | Setophaga striata |
North American Bird Calls
- Click to hear Choice 1
- Click to hear Choice 2
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found from Newfoundland and Labrador, through northern Quebec, west through the northern regions of all the western provinces, most of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and all of Alaska, except its northern coast. The very northeastern regions of a couple of US 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.
