Scientific Name: Oreothlypis celata
Migration: Partial migrant; most birds migrate seasonally, but a small core population is resident in a limited part of the range year-round.
Habitat:
These relatively bland, often overlooked warblers prefer weedy, shrubby habitats including dense thickets, scrub riparian zones and chaparral scrub, as well as clearings, forest edges and recent burn zones.
Areas with primarily deciduous trees are preferred, and orange-crowned warblers can make use of many different types of trees, including aspen, alder, willow, maple, oak, dogwood and ash trees. They are also often present in suitable areas where berry bushes such as blackberries are abundant. During migration, they may be spotted in areas with very little suitable vegetation, where they will rest briefly before continuing on their journey. They may also briefly visit bird-friendly backyards during migration, if nectar feeders or berries are available.
Depending on the available vegetation, orange-crowned warblers may be present up to 7,500 feet in elevation, as long as the overall habitat is suitable.
These warblers have a varied diet of berries, nectar and insects, and they typically stay low in vegetation and may be difficult to see. Because they are slower moving than most warblers, they are easily overlooked as they glean for tidbits. Their drab plumage also blends nearly perfectly into shadowed undergrowth, making them difficult to spot.
Vagrant sightings are relatively regular further east of this bird's expected range. The most common vagrants are recorded to the northeast into Newfoundland.
For more information, see the complete orange-crowned warbler profile.
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