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Prairie warbler

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The prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.

Prairie warbler
Male S. d. paludicola
Jamaica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Setophaga
Species:
S. discolor
Binomial name
Setophaga discolor
(Vieillot, 1809)
Range of S. discolor
  Breeding range
  Winter range
Synonyms
  • Dendroica discolor

Description

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These birds have yellow underparts with dark streaks on the flanks, and olive overparts with rusty streaks on the back; they have a yellow line above the eye, a dark line through it, and a yellow spot below it. These birds have black legs, long tails, two pale wing bars, and thin pointed bills. Coloring is duller in female and immatures.

Measurements

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Standard Measurements[2][3]
length 4.3–5.2 in (110–130 mm)
weight 7.7 g (0.27 oz)
wingspan 7 in (180 mm)
wing 54.4–58.2 mm (2.14–2.29 in)
tail 47.5–50.5 mm (1.87–1.99 in)
culmen 9–10.2 mm (0.35–0.40 in)
tarsus 17–19 mm (0.67–0.75 in)

Vocalizations

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Prairie warblers have two categories of songs, referred to as Type A and Type B. Type A songs are typically a series of ascending buzzy notes. The B songs are an ascending series of whistled notes that often contain some buzzy notes. Compared to A songs, the B songs are lower in pitch, have fewer, longer notes. The total song length is longer as well in Type B songs. The use of these two song categories is associated with certain contexts. A songs are sung throughout the day when males first arrive on their breeding grounds. Once males are paired they begin to sing B songs during the dawn chorus and then will intersperse A songs in their singing during the rest of the day. During this later period of singing A songs are typically used near females, near the nest, and in the center of their territories. In contrast B songs are used when interacting or fighting with other males and near the borders of their territories.

Part of their call note repertoire is a tsip call. During dawn, chorus B songs are interspersed with rapid loud "check" calls.

Distribution and habitat

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These birds are permanent residents in the southern parts of their range. Other birds migrate to north-eastern Mexico and islands in the Caribbean.

Behaviour and ecology

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Breeding

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Their breeding habitats are brushy areas and forest edges in eastern North America. The prairie warbler's nests are open cups, which are usually placed in a low area of a tree or shrub. Incubation period is 12 to 13 days.[2]

Feeding

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Prairie warblers forage actively on tree branches, and sometimes fly around with the purpose of catching insects, which are the main food source of these birds.

Behaviour

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These birds wag their tails frequently.

Status

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The numbers of these birds are declining due to habitat loss; this species also suffers from nest parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird.

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References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Setophaga discolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22721725A94726026. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22721725A94726026.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Godfrey, W. Earl (1966). The Birds of Canada. Ottawa: National Museum of Canada. p. 339.
  3. ^ Sibley, David Allen (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Knopf. p. 440. ISBN 0-679-45122-6.
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