- This article refers to the New World wood warbler family of birds, the Parulidae. For the Eurasian species Phylloscopus sibilatrix, see Wood Warbler.
| New World warblers | |
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| Common Yellowthroat Geolyphis trichas |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Suborder: | Passeri |
| Family: | Parulidae Wetmore et al., 1947 |
| Genera | |
The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are closely related to neither the Old World warblers nor the Australian warblers.
Most are arboreal, but some, like the Ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
It is likely that this group originated in northern Central America, which remains with the greatest diversity and numbers of species. From thence they spread north during the interglacial periods, mainly as migrants, returning to the ancestral region in winter. Two genera, Myioborus and Basileuterus seem to have colonised South America early, perhaps before the two continents were linked, and provide most warbler species of that region.
Many migratory species, particularly those breeding further north, have distinctive male plumage at least in the breeding season, since males need to reclaim territory and advertise for mates each year. This tendency is particularly marked in the large genus Dendroica. In contrast, resident tropical species, which pair for life, show little if any sexual dimorphism.
There are of course exceptions. The Parkesia waterthrushes and Ovenbird are strongly migratory, but have identical male and female plumage, whereas the mainly tropical and sedentary yellowthroats are dimorphic.
The Granatellus chats also show sexual dimorphism, but due to recent genetic work have been moved into the family Cardinalidae (New World buntings and cardinals).
All the warblers are fairly small. The smallest species is the Lucy's Warbler (Oreothlypis luciae), at about 6.5 grams and 10.6 cm (4.2 in). The largest species depends upon the true taxonomy of the family. Traditionally, it was listed as Yellow-breasted Chat, at 18.2 cm (7.2 in). Since this may not be parulid, the Parkesia waterthrushes, the Ovenbird, the Russet-crowned Warbler and Semper's Warbler, all of which can exceed 15 cm (6 in) and 21 grams, could be considered the largest.
The migratory species tend to lay larger clutches of eggs, typically up to six, since the hazards of their journeys mean that many individuals will have only one chance to breed. In contrast, two eggs is typical for many tropical species, since the chicks can be provided with better care, and the adults are likely to have further opportunities for reproduction.
The scientific name for the family, Parulidae, originates from the fact that Linnaeus in 1758 named the Northern Parula as a tit, Parus americanus, and, as taxonomy developed, the genus name was modified first to Parulus and then the current Parula. The family name, of course, derives from that genus.
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Contents
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Systematics
There are a number of issues in the taxonomy and systematics of the Parulidae.
- The New World warblers are closely related to the tanagers, and some species like the conebills Conirostrum and the Bananaquit have been placed into either group by different authorities. Currently, the conebills are normally placed in Thraupidae and the Bananaquit in its own family.
- Green-tailed Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and White-winged Warbler are other species where there have been questions as to whether they should be considered as warblers or tanagers.
- The Pardusco, Nephelornis oneilli is also of uncertain affinities
Genera and species
- Genus Vermivora
- Bachman's Warbler, Vermivora bachmanii
- Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera
- Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
- Genus Oreothlypis
- Tennessee Warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina
- Orange-crowned Warbler, Oreothlypis celata
- Nashville Warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla
- Virginia's Warbler, Oreothlypis virginiae
- Colima Warbler, Oreothlypis crissalis
- Lucy's Warbler, Oreothlypis luciae
- Flame-throated Warbler, Oreothlypis gutturalis
- Crescent-chested Warbler, Oreothlypis superciliosa
- Genus Parula
- Northern Parula, Parula americana
- Tropical Parula, Parula pitiayumi
- Genus Dendroica
- Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
- Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica
- Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia
- Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina
- Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica caerulescens
- Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata
- Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens
- Golden-cheeked Warbler, Dendroica chrysoparia
- Black-throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens
- Townsend's Warbler, Dendroica townsendi
- Hermit Warbler, Dendroica occidentalis
- Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca
- Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica dominica
- Bahama Warbler, Dendroica flavescens
- Olive-capped Warbler, Dendroica pityophila
- Grace's Warbler, Dendroica graciae
- Adelaide's Warbler, Dendroica adelaidae
- Barbuda Warbler, Dendroica subita
- St. Lucia Warbler, Dendroica delicata
- Pine Warbler, Dendroica pinus
- Kirtland's Warbler, Dendroica kirtlandii
- Prairie Warbler, Dendroica discolor
- Vitelline Warbler, Dendroica vitellina
- Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum
- Bay-breasted Warbler, Dendroica castanea
- Blackpoll Warbler, Dendroica striata
- Cerulean Warbler, Dendroica cerulea
- Plumbeous Warbler, Dendroica plumbea
- Arrow-headed Warbler, Dendroica pharetra
- Elfin-woods Warbler, Dendroica angelae
- Genus Catharopeza
- Whistling Warbler, Catharopeza bishopi
- Genus Mniotilta
- Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia
- Genus Setophaga
- American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
- Genus Protonotaria
- Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea
- Genus Helmitheros
- Worm-eating Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorus
- Genus Limnothlypis
- Swainson's Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
- Genus Seiurus
- Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus
- Genus Parkesia
- Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
- Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
- Genus Oporornis
- Kentucky Warbler, Oporornis formosus
- Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agilis
- Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia
- MacGillivray's Warbler, Oporornis tolmiei
- Genus Geothlypis
- Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
- Belding's Yellowthroat, Geothlypis beldingi
- Altamira Yellowthroat, Geothlypis flavovelata
- Bahama Yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata
- Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, Geothlypis semiflava
- Black-polled Yellowthroat, Geothlypis speciosa
- Masked Yellowthroat, Geothlypis aequinoctialis
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Geothlypis poliocephala
- Hooded Yellowthroat, Geothlypis nelsoni
- Genus Wilsonia
- Hooded Warbler, Wilsonia citrina
- Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla
- Canada Warbler, Wilsonia canadensis
- Genus Cardellina
- Red-faced Warbler, Cardellina rubrifrons
- Genus Ergaticus
- Red Warbler, Ergaticus ruber
- Pink-headed Warbler, Ergaticus versicolor
- Genus Myioborus (often, less accurately, named as redstarts, but they have conspicuous white, not red, feathers on the tail sides)
- Painted Whitestart, Myioborus pictus
- Slate-throated Whitestart, Myioborus miniatus
- Tepui Whitestart, Myioborus castaneocapillus
- Brown-capped Whitestart, Myioborus brunniceps
- Yellow-faced Whitestart, Myioborus pariae
- White-faced Whitestart, Myioborus albifacies
- Saffron-breasted Whitestart, Myioborus cardonai
- Collared Whitestart, Myioborus torquatus
- Spectacled Whitestart, Myioborus melanocephalus
- Golden-fronted Whitestart, Myioborus ornatus
- White-fronted Whitestart, Myioborus albifrons
- Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Myioborus flavivertex
- Genus Euthlypis
- Fan-tailed Warbler, Euthlypis lachrymosa
- Genus Basileuterus
- Gray-and-gold Warbler, Basileuterus fraseri
- Two-banded Warbler, Basileuterus bivittatus
- Golden-bellied Warbler, Basileuterus chrysogaster
- Choco Warbler, Basileuterus chlorophrys
- Pale-legged Warbler, Basileuterus signatus
- Citrine Warbler, Basileuterus luteoviridis
- Black-crested Warbler, Basileuterus nigrocristatus
- Gray-headed Warbler, Basileuterus griseiceps
- Santa Marta Warbler, Basileuterus basilicus
- Gray-throated Warbler, Basileuterus cinereicollis
- White-lored Warbler, Basileuterus conspicillatus
- Russet-crowned Warbler, Basileuterus coronatus
- Golden-crowned Warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus
- Three-banded Warbler, Basileuterus trifasciatus
- White-bellied Warbler, Basileuterus hypoleucus
- Rufous-capped Warbler, Basileuterus rufifrons
- Golden-browed Warbler, Basileuterus belli
- Black-cheeked Warbler, Basileuterus melanogenys
- Pirre Warbler, Basileuterus ignotus
- Three-striped Warbler, Basileuterus tristriatus
- White-rimmed Warbler, Basileuterus leucoblepharus
- White-striped Warbler, Basileuterus leucophrys
- Flavescent Warbler, Basileuterus flaveolus
- Genus Phaeothlypis (formerly included in Basileuterus)
- Buff-rumped Warbler, Phaeothlypis fulvicauda
- Neotropical River Warbler, Phaeothlypis rivularis
Incertae sedis
- Green-tailed Warbler or Green-tailed Ground Warbler, Microligea palustris (Not a parulid)
- Yellow-headed Warbler, Teretistris fernandinae (Not a parulid)
- Oriente Warbler, Teretistris fornsi
- Semper's Warbler, Leucopeza semperi (possibly related to Teretistris and if so not a parulid)
- Wrenthrush, Zeledonia coronata (Not a parulid)
- Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens (Not a parulid)
- White-winged Warbler, Xenoligea montana (Not a parulid)
References
- Curson, Quinn and Beadle, 1994. New World Warblers. 252 p. ISBN 0-7136-3932-6
- Lovette, I. J. and E. Bermingham. 2002. What is a wood-warbler? Molecular characterization of a monophyletic Parulidae. The Auk. 119(3): 695-714. PDF fulltext
External links
- Crane Creek Warblers
- New World Warblers (Parulidae) information, including 81 species with videos and 100 with photographs at the Internet Bird Collection
- Chasing Down Warblers National Geographic News story on seeing 30 warbler species in May
Bibliography
- Dunn, Jon. 1997. A field guide to warblers of North America. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Co., x, 656 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 19 cm.
- Morse, Douglass H. 1989. American warblers : an ecological and behavioral perspective. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, xii, 406 p. : ill., maps.
- Harrison, Hal H. 1984. Wood warblers’ world. New York : Simon and Schuster, 335 p., 24 p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
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