Bird · GBIF taxon 6092935
Blackpoll Warbler
Setophaga striataAlso known as Black-poll Warbler
Blackpoll Warblers are tiny boreal songbirds famous for undertaking a monumental, non-stop autumn migration over the Atlantic Ocean to South America. Breeding males sport a distinctive solid black cap and white cheeks, while their autumn plumage transforms into a subtle greenish-yellow that blends into the canopy. Their high-pitched, insect-like song is one of the highest frequency vocalizations of any North American songbird.
MigratoryBorealInsectivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Caterpillars
- Spiders
- Aphids
Predators
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Merlin
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsHabitat loss in boreal breeding grounds, collisions with man-made structures during migration, and climate change
HabitatsBoreal coniferous forests, stunted subalpine spruce-fir forests, and mixed woodlands during migration
Life span3 to 5 years
Classification
- FamilyParulidae
- SpeciesSetophaga striata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a small songbird with a streaked back, white wing bars, and distinct yellow-orange legs and feet.
- Support conservation
- Keep a respectful distance in breeding territories and support bird-friendly glass initiatives to protect migrants.
Responsible observation
- Listen for high pitches: Learn their extremely high, thin, insect-like song to locate them high in the spruce canopy.
- Watch the autumn canopy: Look for drab, greenish-yellow warblers with yellow feet during fall migration.
- Support dark skies: Turn off outdoor lights during spring and fall migration to prevent fatal building collisions.
Frequent Companion "Black and White Warbler" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion David Mitchell / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Predator "Sharp-Shinned Hawk (juvenile)" by Becky Matsubara is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland · cc-by
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