Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 4.3–5.1 in
11–13 cm - Weight
- 0.4–0.5 oz
12–14 g
Other Names
- Paruline vermivore (French)
- Chipe gusanero (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Late in incubation the female Worm-eating Warbler sits so tight on her nest that only touching her will flush her. Her cryptic coloring makes immobility a safe strategy. If she is flushed, she will flutter across the ground with her wings and tail spread, acting helpless to lure predators away from the nest.
- Young Worm-eating Warblers typically leave their nest 8-10 days after hatching. Chicks as young as five days old have been observed leaving the nest and surviving, although they cannot fly at that age.
- Although the Worm-eating Warbler forages in the understory near the ground and nests on the ground, it does not spend much time on the forest floor. It does not forage there, and when on the ground it hops instead of walking.
Habitat
Forest
- Breeds in mature deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forest with patches of dense understory, usually on steep hillside.
- Winters in tropical forests.
Food
Insects
Arthropods, spiders, slugs, and especially caterpillars.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- White to pink, with brown speckles.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless and naked.
Nest Description
Nest a cup of skeletonized leaves lined with moss, placed on ground.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Gleans in low shrubs, but only rarely on ground. Probes into hanging dead leaf clusters and foliage.
Conservation
Least Concern
Dependence on large forests for nesting make it vulnerable to population decreases. Populations seem stable across United States. Listed on the Audubon Watchlist
Credits
- Hanners, L. A., and S. R. Patton. 1998. Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus). In The Birds of North America, No. 367 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.