Lucy’s Warbler

Oreothlypis luciae

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male

Lucy’s Warbler is a small, pale songbird. The sexes are subtly dissimilar. Adult males have pale blue-gray upperparts except for a chestnut rump and dark gray wings and tail. The underparts are pale gray with a white undertail. The pale face emphasizes the dark eye and there is a chestnut crown that is often partly concealed. Adult females are similar to an adult male but with a much-reduced crown patch and paler face. Immatures are similar to an adult female but the crown patch is absent.

Lucy’s Warbler is present as a breeding species mainly from April to July. It spends the rest of the year on the west coast of Mexico. Unusually among wood warblers, it nests in treeholes and crevices.

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female

FACT FILE

LENGTH 4.25 in (11 cm)

FOOD Invertebrates

HABITAT Waterside mesquite woodland

STATUS Locally common summer visitor

VOICE Song is a rapid warbling trill. Call is sharp chink

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