Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Black-Throated Green Warbler

By: Tom Berg

There are dozens of species of warbler birds in the world, and a large number of them migrate into and through the United States each year. One of the most striking-looking warblers is the Black-Throated Green Warbler. Although it is not as green as some people might imagine, it definitely has an unforgettable black throat.

As the name states, this handsome bird has a jet black throat (at least for the males).  The black coloration on the females is not as bold. Both sexes have a bright yellow head with an olive-green back and a bit of olive-green on their heads. Their wings are black and white and they have a white belly, with some muted black streaking on it. Their eyes and short beak are black, too.

Like nearly all warblers, black-throated green warblers are expert insect predators. Insects make up the majority of their diet, especially during the nesting season. Flies, caterpillars, beetles and spiders are favorite snacks, although they are perfectly willing to eat small berries, too, particularly when insects are scarce.

These nimble little warblers catch the vast majority of the small insects they eat on the leaves and branches of trees up in the forest canopy. They flit from branch to branch in a seemingly never-ending search for food. Their excellent vision allows them to see the tiniest flies and gnats that hide amongst the foliage, and their acrobatic flying skill helps them deftly nab these little bugs.

Black-throated green warblers are long-distance migratory birds. They spend the winter in Mexico, Central America, on Caribbean islands and even in northern South America.  In early spring they head north, mostly through Central America and eastern Mexico on their way to their Canadian breeding grounds. Some fly directly across the Gulf of Mexico, too. Certain individuals stop to breed in many of our north-central and northeastern states, and the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains are also home to these nesting warblers.

Keep an eye out for them once winter loses its grip and the spring migration starts.

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