lucy's warbler

Lucy's Warbler
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Vermivora Species: V. luciae
Binomial name
Vermivora luciae Cooper, 1861

Lucy's Warbler, Vermivora luciae, is the smallest New World warbler found in North America, measuring a mere 4.25 inches in length.

It is rather nondescript compared to other wood-warblers. Its head and upperparts are pale gray, while underparts are whitish. It has a white eyering and a small, pointed bill. Both sexes have a rufous rump, a diagnostic field mark. Adult males also have a small rusty crown patch. Juveniles are paler, with a tawny rump and buffy wingbars.

Life history

Lucy's Warblers inhabit riparian mesquite and brushy country of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Lucy's is the only warbler besides Prothonotary to nest in cavities. Habitat loss and to a lesser extent, Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism are threatening this species, and populations are diminishing throughout its breeding range. The birds migrate to western Mexico in winter.

These strictly insectivorous birds forage actively, looking for the caterpillars, beetles, and leafhoppers that compose much of their diet.

Lucy's Warbler is closely related to Virginia's Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Colima Warbler.

The common name and binomial of this species commemorate Lucy Hunter Baird, daughter of ornithologist Spencer Fullerton Baird.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Vermivora luciae. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

Further reading

Book

• Johnson, R. R., H. K. Yard, and B. T. Brown. 1997. Lucy’s Warbler (Vermivora luciae). In The Birds of North America, No. 318 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Thesis

• Laudenslayer WFJ. Ph.D. (1981). HABITAT UTILIZATION BY BIRDS OF THREE DESERT RIPARIAN COMMUNITIES. Arizona State University, United States -- Arizona.

• Lloyd JD. M.S. (1997). Large-scale vegetation features affecting the distribution and abundance of grassland birds. The University of Arizona, United States -- Arizona.

Articles

• Heil RS. (1981). An Avian Fallout and Black-Chinned Hummingbird Archilochus-Alexandri New-Record and Lucys Warbler Vermivora-Luciae New-Record in Massachusetts USA a Consideration of the Factors That May Have Resulted in an Unusual Cluster of Records. American Birds. vol 35, no 2. p. 139-141.

• Lloyd J, Mannan RW, Destefano S & Kirkpatrick C. (1998). The effects of mesquite invasion on a southeastern Arizona grassland bird community. Wilson Bulletin. vol 110, no 3. p. 403-408.

• Patten MA, Erickson RA & Unitt P. (2004). Population changes and biogeographic affinities of the birds of the Salton Sink, California/Baja California. Studies in Avian Biology. vol 27, p. 24-32.

• Stoleson SH, Shook RS & Finch DM. (2000). Breeding biology of Lucy's Warbler in southwestern New Mexico. Western Birds. vol 31, no 4. p. 235-242.

• Voelker G & McFarland SL. (2002). Molt patterns and molting grounds of Lucy's and Virginia's Warblers: Similar yet different. Wilson Bulletin. vol 114, no 2. p. 255-263.

• Yard HK, van Riper C, III, Brown BT & Kearsley MJ. (2004). Diets of insectivorous birds along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Condor. vol 106, no 1. p. 106-115.

External links

• Lucy's Warbler photo gallery VIREO

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