About the Kirtland's Warbler
Kirtland's warbler, also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae). Nearly extinct just years ago, populations have recovered due to the conservation efforts of the Kirtland's Warbler Conservation Team and its members. The birds require large areas, greater than 160 acres, of dense young jack pine for breeding habitat. This habitat was historically created by wildfire, but today is created through the harvest of mature jack pine, and planting of jack pine seedlings.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Male Kirtland's warblers have bluish-grey upper body parts, with dark streaks on the back, yellow bellies, and dark streaks on the flanks and sides. It has black lores (cheeks) and a distinctive, large and conspicuous broken white eye ring, which it only shares with Setophaga coronata. Females and juveniles are similar, but are browner on the wings and back and are not as boldly or brightly marked. It frequently bobs its tail up and down, which is uncommon in northern warblers. At 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) and 12.3–16 g (0.43–0.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Kirtland's Warbler sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
American Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaOther than in male breeding plumage and body size, all warbler subspecies are very similar.
Plumbeous WarblerSetophaga plumbeaThe plumbeous warbler is 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 8.4 to 11.3 g (0.30 to 0.40 oz).
Olive-capped WarblerSetophaga pityophilaThe olive-capped warbler is about 12.5 to 13 cm (4.9 to 5.1 in) long and weighs 7.2 to 8.7 g (0.25 to 0.31 oz).
Learn the Kirtland's Warbler for real
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