Warblers- ORDER: Passeriformes
- FAMILY: Parulidae
Basic Description
A delicate, lemon-faced canopy dweller, Black-throated Green Warblers are standouts in a family that does not lack for spectacle. It’s a common breeder from northern boreal forests to hardwoods of the southeastern U.S., and even cypress swamps. Many bird watchers know its distinctive and persistent song, sometimes transcribed as trees trees I love trees, that’s easy to remember. Black-throated Green Warblers are the easternmost representative of a quartet of closely related warblers including Townsend’s, Hermit, and Golden-cheeked.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
The Black-throated Green Warbler is an untiring songster. Males in spring migration and on their breeding territory can be tracked down by following the buzzy, ringing song. Getting a good look at the bird is a different matter, as Black-throated Green Warblers often remain high in the canopy. Paying attention to any small birds quickly and nimbly foraging on the tips of high branches will often reward you with a look at the species, though often at an unkind angle. Fortunately, the gleaming cheek and extensive black throat and breast of the male birds make identifying the species fairly straightforward.
Other Names
- Reinita Dorsiverde (Spanish)
- Paruline à gorge noire (French)
Backyard Tips
Black-throated Green Warblers are not typically a backyard bird and don’t come to feeders, but yards with large mature trees may host them in migration.