Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 4.3–5.1 in
11–13 cm - Wingspan
- 7.1–8.7 in
18–22 cm - Weight
- 0.3–0.5 oz
8–15 g
Other Names
- Paruline noir et blanc; Fauvette noire et blanche (French)
- Chipe trepador; Reinita trepadora; Verdin trepadora; Mezelilla (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Black-and-white Warbler has an unusually long hind toe and claw on each foot. This adaptation allows it to move securely on the surface of tree bark.
- Unusually aggressive for a warbler, the Black-and-white Warbler sometimes attacks and fights Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tennessee Warbler, and other species.
Habitat
Forest
Breeds in mature and second-growth deciduous and mixed forests. Winters in variety of habitats from disturbed areas to mature forests.
Food
Insects
Caterpillars, adult insects, and spiders.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 4–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- White, speckled with brown and light purple.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless, pink skin and dark gray down.
Nest Description
Open cup of dry leaves, grass, bark, and pine needles, lined with fine grasses, horsehair, and moss, usually placed on ground next to a tree.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Bark Forager
Hops and creeps on tree trunks and branches, picking insects from bark; also gleans from leaves.
Conservation
Least Concern
Widespread and abundant.
Credits
- Kricher, J. C. 1995. Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia). In The Birds of North America, No. 158 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.