Blackpoll Warbler

(Setophaga striata)

Conservation Status
Blackpoll Warbler
Photo by Laurie Wachholz
  IUCN Red List

NT - Near Threatened

     
  NatureServe

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNA - No Status Rank

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The black cap and plump shape of the breeding male are similar to the Black-capped Chickadee, but the similarity ends there. The throat and cheek are white and divided by a black “chin” stripe. The back is olive-gray with black streaks. The underparts are white and have black streaking. The wings have two white wing bars. The legs are orangish-yellow. Non-breeding males and females have an olive-yellow head and upper parts and a yellow “eyebrow”.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5 to 5½ in length

9 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Stunted coniferous trees and shrubs in mature forests and on open fens and bogs

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Early May to early June and late August to early October

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Mostly insects and spiders, but also fruit during migration

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon to sometimes common migrant

Although this species is abundant, the population has been crashing. Partners in Flight estimates that the number of individuals has decreased 92% since 1970. In 2018, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species upgraded this species’ status from Least Concern to Near Threatened. It is not listed in Minnesota.

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Parulidae (New World warblers, wood warblers)  
 

Genus

Setophaga (redstarts)  
       
 

In 2011 all of the wood warblers were reclassified resulting in new genus names for almost all of them. The genus Dendroica, with 29 members, was merged with the genus Setophaga, with just 3 members. All of the former Dendroica species have been renamed to Setophaga.

Blackpoll Warbler, formerly Dendroica striata, is now Setophaga striata.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Dendroica striata

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Laurie Wachholz

 
    Blackpoll Warbler      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

     
 
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slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Amazing Migration: Blackpoll Warbler
Mountain Lake PBS
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 10, 2015

New technology is allowing researchers to track the incredible 1,700-mile non-stop migration of Blackpoll Warblers over the Atlantic Ocean from their home in the Adirondacks and Eastern Canada to South America.

   
  Blackpoll Warblers
AdrianB
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 17, 2014

Several male blackpoll warblers (Setophaga striata) are shown in Central Park on their migration to their northern breeding grounds. The blackpoll warbler spends the winter in northern South America and migrates to Alaska, Canada, and small portions of the northeastern United States to breed. It is a common species, and it is assessed as being of least concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

This video was recorded on May 13, 14, and 17, 2014 in Central Park, New York City.

   
  A Black poll warbler's migration behavior
Simon Andrews
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 29, 2015

An interpretor describes what it takes for a black poll warbler to migrate from Newfoundland to Brasil in one flight.

Filmed August 25 2015 from the beaver hills bird observatory Alberta.

   
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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Created: 2/11/2019

Last Updated:

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