Setophaga nigrescens
male
The Black-throated Gray Warbler is a well-marked little songbird. The sexes are subtly dissimilar. Adult males have a streaked, dark gray back and wings with two white wingbars. The mainly black head is patterned with a white supercilium and malar stripe, and a tiny yellow spot in front of the eye. The throat and breast are also black, and the underparts are otherwise white with dark-streaked flanks. The tail is dark above with white outer feathers, and mostly white below. Adult females are similar to an adult male, but the throat is white with faint dark streaking; black elements of the head pattern are grayer, and the back is paler. Immatures are similar to an adult female but grayer still, with a less distinct breast band and a buff suffusion to the underparts.
The Black-throated Gray Warbler is present as a breeding species in western North America mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year in Mexico.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5 in (12.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Open conifer and mixed woodland
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a rapid series of buzzing notes, such as whzz-tzee, whzz-tzee, whzz-tzee, whzz-zoo. Call is a thin tsip
