Bird of the Week: Black-and-White Warbler

Common Name: Black-and-White Warbler
Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia
Preferred Habitat: primary and secondary forests
When seen in Indiana: Migration and summer breeding
Where: During migration in parks, gardens, and lawns with trees and shrubs; during breeding in forests
Length: 5 in (13cm)
Size: Small (5-9 in)
Color Pattern: Black and white streaked
Flight pattern: weak flight on rapidly beating wings
Feeds on: caterpillars, flies, bugs, beetles, borers, spiders, and arthropod eggs
Song: Lengthy series of thin squeaky very high pitched notes "wee-see" in a series of 6-10 phrases
Calls: dull "chip" sound, "tik", and "seet-seet" given in flight
Similar species: Brown Creeper has similar color streaking and size, Black-throated Gray Warbler has similar coloration but prefers small twigs and leaves rather than thick forests and large trunks, Blackpoll Warbler is also similar in coloration but the Black-and-White has a striped crown.

Are you into birding?

Birdwatching is a great way to connect with nature and learn more about the world around you. If you have never been on a bird hike with an experienced birder, I recommend doing so. You can learn a lot and have a blast. Birding is relaxing and enjoyable in a mysterious way. Every bird spotted starts as a mystery and using clues such as habitat, silhouettes, song, color, and size, you can solve it. This blog is a place to learn information about birds in Indiana and to get tools to help you better identify the birds you see. 75HNZFGD2NFB