Warblers- ORDER: Passeriformes
- FAMILY: Parulidae
Basic Description
The Black-throated Gray Warbler is a striking yet monochrome warbler that wears only a tiny spot of yellow just above and in front of the eye. Its black throat and gray back give it its name, but its bold black-and-white striped face is equally eye catching. The Black-throated Gray Warbler frequents pine and mixed pine-oak forests west of the Rocky Mountains and spends the winters farther south to Mexico. It sings a buzzy song of zeedle zeedle zeedle zeet-chee.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
Look for Black-throated Gray Warblers hopping boldly and seemingly without fear of humans in the lower and middle levels of open coniferous forests. Males are also particularly vocal during migration and early in the breeding season. Their song is among the easier warbler songs to learn and their black, white, and gray plumage will no doubt catch your eye.
Other Names
- Reinita Gris (Spanish)
- Paruline grise (French)
- Cool Facts
- The Black-throated Gray Warbler is a short- to medium-distance migrant, moving from its breeding areas in the western United States only as far south as Mexico. Migrating warblers follow mountain ranges and the Pacific coastline southward. Despite these landmarks, some get lost and turn up every year in the eastern states.
- John Kirk Townsend described the Black-throated Gray Warbler near Portland, Oregon, in 1837, but the Chinook tribe already knew the bird and called it "Ah Kah a qual."