This attractive, small warbler is uncommon within shaded deciduous undergrowth in mature forest along low, thick areas and many times along streams.
The necklaced warbler spends less time on the Boreal breeding grounds than most warblers, arriving late and leaving early. It has also been known to breed along the Appalachians as far south as Georgia. Due to overbrowsing by deer, deforestation, the wooly adelgid (a killer of hemlock and spruce), this passerine has been losing numbers. In the Andes, where a large portion of these neotropical migrants overwinter, loss of habitat is hurting them on the opposite end of the spectrum.
As a strong flycatcher, it will flush insects while foraging along leaves and twigs, then darting out to catch escaped protein. Also watch the ground, as they will forage among the leaves there, Within dense foliage is can usually be located from a couple of feet from the ground to the higher canopies. It will feel the effects of climate change as the years pass, and loss of forest due to clear cutting will take its toll.
Canada Warbler
Wikipedia/William Majoros
The male will have a darker necklace and a longer tail than the female. They really are not dimorphic. This passerine has thicker spectacles than most warblers, and fresh spring coloring will show a bright yellow chest, belly, and throat, as well as a dark gray back. While nesting, they are often a Brown-headed Cowbird host.
Look carefully for the necklace, which will keep one from identifying it as a Magnolia Warbler and if there is a yellow throat, ID as a Yellow-throated Warbler. During the fall, it is not difficult to determine the identity of this bird. The adult male will show strong similarity to the spring male, but sometimes slightly duller with fringing upon the crown. The female adult will have an olive cast to her upperparts, missing the black in her plumage.
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