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Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta variaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Wood Warblers (Parulidae)

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Widespread



Egg Color:

White to creamy white with brown flecks



Number of Eggs:

4 - 6



Incubation Days:

10 - 12



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Grasses, bark pieces, dead leaves, rootlets, and pine needles lined with moss and mammal hair.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Black-and-white Warbler: Small, black-and-white striped warbler with a white median head stripe bordered by black. Black bill, legs and feet. It forages unlike any other warbler by moving up and down the trunks of trees and crawling under and over branches in a style similar to that of a nuthatch.

Range and Habitat

Black-and-white Warbler: Breeds from southern Mackenzie, northern Alberta, and central Manitoba east to Newfoundland, and south to southern U.S. east of the Rockies. Spends winters from southern parts of Gulf coast states southward. Preferred habitats include primary and secondary forests, chiefly deciduous. During migration occurs in parks, gardens, and lawn areas with trees and shrubs.

Breeding and Nesting

Black-and-white Warbler: Four to six brown flecked, white to creamy white eggs are laid in a ground nest composed of leaves, grass, and rootlets, and lined with hair and fern down. Nest is set at the base of a tree, stump, or rock. Incubation ranges from 10 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Black-and-white Warbler: Feeds on caterpillars, flies, bugs, beetles, borers, spiders, and arthropod egg masses. The only North American warbler to forage regularly on bark; creeps along branches and trunks from the canopy to the ground, picking and probing with its thin bill.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water, Fruit, Nut Pieces

Vocalization

Black-and-white Warbler: Song is a lengthy series of thin, squeaky, very high-pitched notes "wee-see" in a series of six to ten phrases. Calls include a dull "chip", "tik", and a doubled "seet-seet" given in flight.

Similar Species

Black-and-white Warbler: Blackpoll Warbler lacks white behind eye and does not creep along trunks and branches.

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Family Wood Warbler (Parulidae)_blue
Species Mniotilta varia
Length5 Inches
Wingspan8.75 Inches

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler: Small, black-and-white striped warbler with a white median head stripe bordered by black. Black bill, legs and feet. It forages unlike any other warbler by moving up and down the trunks of trees and crawling under and over branches in a style similar to that of a nuthatch.

● Song: Repetitive thin high-pitched series of 6-10 wee-sea, wee-sea notes like the sound of a turning squeaky wheel.

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-and-white Warbler: Feeds on caterpillars, flies, bugs, beetles, borers, spiders, and arthropod egg masses. The only North American warbler to forage regularly on bark; creeps along branches and trunks from the canopy to the ground, picking and probing with its thin bill.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-and-white Warbler: Four to six brown flecked, white to creamy white eggs are laid in a ground nest composed of leaves, grass, and rootlets, and lined with hair and fern down. Nest is set at the base of a tree, stump, or rock. Incubation ranges from 10 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Black-and-white Warbler: Blackpoll Warbler lacks white behind eye and does not creep along trunks and branches.

Flight Pattern

Weak flight on rapidly beating wings.
Black-and-White Warbler Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black-and-white Warbler: Breeds from southern Mackenzie, northern Alberta, and central Manitoba east to Newfoundland, and south to southern U.S. east of the Rockies. Spends winters from southern parts of Gulf coast states southward. Preferred habitats include primary and secondary forests, chiefly deciduous. During migration occurs in parks, gardens, and lawn areas with trees and shrubs.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationWidespread
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.4 Ounces