Black and White Warblers are Interesting Little Birds
There have been several times over the past couple of weeks that there has been a black and white warbler (Mniotilta varia) hunting in the branches of one of my live oak trees. I’ve tried each time to get some shots of him, but until today I hadn’t had much luck. Between the leaves in the tree and the speed of the little bird it had been difficult, but today he started hunting on a branch right in front of me. He was still a very active little guy, but there were a lot fewer obstructions. As he worked that tree branch, I was intrigued by his hunting style. He was easily able to climb up and down the trunk of the tree and he circled the branches with the ease of any woodpecker. Many warblers can hang upside down and can race along branches, but only the black and white warbler can move like a woodpecker or a nuthatch. It’s all made possible by a long, thick middle toe that allows them to grip the bark better than most birds. For this reason, black and white warblers are the only members of their genus.
Black and white warblers spend the breeding season in the northern and eastern parts of North America. They generally live in old growth deciduous or mixed forests. They prefer moist habitats, but will live in drier regions with adequate forests. Males usually arrive first and establish a territory. When the female arrives she will build a nest on the forest floor or in a small crevice in a stone, a stump, or among the tree roots. She alone incubates the eggs and the male feeds her. When the eggs hatch, both parents feed the young until they fledge in 10-12 days. Generally, the couple will raise one clutch of 4-6 young per year.
When fall arrives the black and white warblers head south to their winter homes in Florida, Mexico, Central America, and into South America. The one that was here today is a male. The females look very similar, but they usually don’t have a black cheek strap like this one does. I’m not sure if it’s just the one bird that is here or if there are several and I’m just seeing one at a time. Like some of the other winter visitors, I’m not sure how long they will stay, but I will have fun watching them climb, jump, and fly around in the oaks while they’re here.
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