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DESCRIPTION |
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Extensively yellow with golden yellow
plumage and rusty streaks on the breast. Males and females
are similar with golden yellow upper parts tinged with
olive, yellow underparts, and thin pointed beaks. However,
the male is brighter. |
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GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE & HABITAT |
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Majority of the year is spent in the
North American continent, but migrates to southern Florida,
southern California and South America. Because they offer
a large variety of insects, the warbler prefers moist
habitats like the edges of marshes and swamps, willow-lined
streams and leafy bogs. It also inhabits dry area such
as thickets, farmlands, forest edges and suburban yards
and gardens. It is partial to areas of scattered trees,
dense shrubbery and any other kind of moist shady locale. |
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FOOD HABITS & DIET |
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Insects. |
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE |
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During the breeding season Yellow Warblers
are extremely territorial, but rejoin flocks later in
the year. Because of their well-built open-cup tree nests,
Yellow Warblers find their nests used by parasitic Cowbirds.
However, they will often cover the intruder's eggs with
an additional layer of nesting material. |
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REPRODUCTION |
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The entire process takes about 45 days.
It begins with a fairly elaborate courtship performed
by the male who may sing more than 3000 songs in a day
to attract a mate. The responsibility of incubation, nest
construction and most feeding of the young lies with the
female. The male contributes more as the young develop.
A brood usually consists of 4-5 eggs and, after they mature,
some of the fledglings may follow the mother while the
rest remain with the father. Incubation lasts 10-14 days,
nestling period lasts 8-12 days, and parental feeding
may last to 2 weeks after the young leave the nest. Yellow
Warblers are generally single brooders, but in the case
of a broken-up nest, they will breed again. |
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NESTING |
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This open-cupped type nest is constructed
by the female and is compact and strong. It is usually
placed in the fork of a small tree or bush like the willow,
and is composed of such organic matter as shredded bark
and grass, and lined with fine material, such as plant
down, hair or dandelion fuzz. The bird usually nests in
the same general area each year. |
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CONSERVATION |
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It is common, but due to loss of riparian
woodland habitat and extensive parasitism by Cowbirds,
there is a slight decline in the numbers of yellow Warblers.
An increase in population occurs in areas where grazing
and herbicide are restricted permitting regrowth of riparian
vegetation. The Barbados Yellow Warbler, a subspecies,
is on the U.S. endangered species list. |
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INTERESTING FACTS |
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Both males and females engage in distinct
musical songs. Primarily an insectivore, Yellow Warblers
can rid farms and gardens of unwanted pests. |
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