A small plain, short-tailed warbler, with complete eyering, the Nashville Warbler is generally uncommon. It breeds in both the northern and western parts of the US, as well as southern Canada. It does not migrate far, still enjoying a small part of the US in California and Texas, as well as Mexico and northern Central America. They do not migrate across the Gulf of Mexico as many warblers do.
This bird was found by ornithologist Alexander Wilson near Nashville, Tennessee in 1881, and was aptly named as a bird of the eastern part of the country at that time. It's climatic range is sending it north.
This common summer resident of the eastern US is closely related to the Orange-crowned Warbler.
Occasionally, one may be so lucky to see the red crown patch in both sexes, but it is even more rarely seen in the female of the species.
Nashville Warbler
Boomer Lake Park, Spring 2017
They will be found in mixed species flocks during migration, as many warblers tend to be observed. During fall migration, they can be found low as opposed to the spring and summer, when they are found higher in hardwood trees. They are insectivores, enjoying caterpillars, beetles, flies, etc.
There are two distinct populations, which include the Western breeding subspecies (or Calaveras Warbler, which is duller colored) that wags its tail, and the Eastern, which does not. The species commonly migrates through Oklahoma in both the spring and fall, including the Panhandle.
They are seldom parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird, and are threatened by climate change.
This warbler is a ground nester, found under brushy vegetation or small trees.
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