Cerulean Warbler

About the Cerulean Warbler

The cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea) is a small songbird in the family Parulidae. It is a long-distance migrant, breeding in eastern North American hardwood forests and wintering on the Eastern slope of the Andes in South America during non-breeding season, preferring subtropical forests. It displays strong sexual dichromatism: Adult males have cerulean blue and white upperparts, with a black necklace across the breast and black streaks on the back and flanks. Females and immature birds have bluish-green upperparts, a pale stripe over the eye, no streaking, and are yellow below. All have two white wing bars and a thin, pointed bill. The cerulean warbler is insectivorous and predominantly feeds on insect larvae, though it also comsumes winged insects.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Setophaga cerulea

Family

New World Warblers

Order

Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the new world warblers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Altamira Yellowthroat Geothlypis flavovelata
• American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
• Bachman's Warbler Vermivora bachmanii
• Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
• Belding's Yellowthroat Geothlypis beldingi
• Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
• Black-polled Yellowthroat Geothlypis speciosa
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
• Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens
• Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
• Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
• Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata