Perching Birds

Bay-breasted Warbler  Dendroica castanea

Family: Wood Warblers, Parulidae

Audio: Martyn Stewart, © Naturesound.org

An estimated 79% of the species' North American population breeds within the Boreal Forest.

Description  5 1/2" (14 cm). In breeding plumage, male has chestnut cap, throat, and sides; blackish face; conspicuous pale buff patch on side of neck. Upperparts streaked. Females, fall males, and immatures are olive above, with 2 white wing bars; similar to fall Blackpoll Warblers, but with dark legs and often a trace of rust color on flanks.

Habitat  Breeds in open spruce forests. During migration, frequents deciduous trees as well.

Nesting  5 white eggs, with brown markings, in a loosely built, hair-lined nest of twigs, grass, and needles set in a conifer as much as 50' (15 m) above ground.

Voice  A high thin teesi-teesi-teesi-teesi, without change in pitch or volume.

Range  Breeds from northeastern British Columbia east to Maritime Provinces and south to northern Great Lakes region and northern New England. Winters in tropics.

Discussion  This warbler, like the Cape May and Tennessee Warblers, increases in numbers during years of spruce budworm outbreaks in its breeding areas; the excess of food means the warblers are able to produce more young. A handsome bird, it is eagerly sought by enthusiasts during the warbler migrations in middle and late May.