Myrtle Warbler

The Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica coronata, is a small New World warbler.

This passerine bird is closely related to its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler, and the two forms are frequently lumped as the single species Yellow-rumped Warbler. It is likely that the two forms diverged when the eastern and western populations were separated in the last ice-age.

Myrtle Warbler has a northerly and easterly distribution, with Audubon's further west. It breeds in much of Canada, and the north eastern USA. It is migratory, wintering in the southeastern United States, eastern Central America and the Caribbean. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe,and has wintered in Great Britain.

The summer male Myrtle Warbler has a slate blue back, and yellow crown, rump and flank patch. It has white tail patches, and the breast is streaked black. The female has a similar pattern, but the back is brown as are the breast streaks.

This form can be distinguished from Audubon's Warbler by its whitish eyestripe, white throat, and contrasting cheek patch.

The breeding habitat is a variety of coniferous and mixed woodland. Myrtle Warblers nest in a tree, laying 4-5 eggs in a cup nest.

These birds are insectivorous, but will readily take berries in winter, a habit which gives the species its name.. They form small flocks on migration or in winter.

The song is a simple trill. The call is a hard check.

Reference

New World Warblers by Curson, Quinn and Beadle, ISBN 0-7136-3932-6