Crescent-chested Warbler

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Crescent-chested Warbler
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Parula Species: P. superciliosa
Binomial name
Parula superciliosa (Hartlaub, 1844)

The Crescent-chested Warbler (Parula superciliosa) is a small New World Warbler. It is generally uncommon in its native range of central Mexico, and accidental elsewhere.

The Crescent-chested warbler is similar to both the Northern Parula and the Tropical Parula, with yellow underparts, a gray head, and greenish back. Its definitive characteristic is a chestnut crescent on its breast, less prominent in the aforementioned species. Juvenile males look similar to the duller adult females, while juvenile females may lack the chestnut crescent.

Contents 1 Life history 2 References 3 Further reading 3.1 Thesis 3.2 Articles

[edit] Life history

These monogamous, solitary birds become more gregarious in winter, joining mixed-species flocks to feed (mostly insects, but sometimes fruits and berries in the middle to upper levels of trees). It jumps from twigs and foliage, picking food from the underside of leaves, and hanging beneath leaves in a fashion similar to chickadees to check surfaces for prey.

Crescent-chested Warblers make their nests atop grassy tussocks or sheltered by a hill or bank near the ground. Usually they will have 1 - 2 broods a year. The female is believed to build the nest without help from the male, gathering moss, grass, conifer needles, and fine materials to line the nest. She will then lay approximately three plain white eggs. Incubation is estimated to last 12 - 14 days by the female. The chicks are altricial and are also brooded by the female, and fed by both sexes. The young stay in the nest for an estimated 8-10 days.

[edit] References

• Alsop, Birds of North America ISBN 0-7894-9373-X
• BirdLife International (2004). Parula superciliosa. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on January 8, 2007.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Thesis

• Gram WK. Ph.D. (1996). The social structure of an avian community during the nonbreeding season. University of Missouri - Columbia, United States -- Missouri.

[edit] Articles

• Gram WK. (1997). Neotropical migrant and Mexican resident bird species in mixed-species flocks in northeastern Mexico. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. vol 78, no 4 SUPPL.

• Gram WK. (1998). Winter participation by neotropical migrant and resident birds in mixed-species flocks in northeastern Mexico. Condor. vol 100, no 1. p. 44-53.

• Mayfield HF. (1968). Nests of the Red Warbler and Crescent-Chested Warbler in Oaxaca Mexico Ergaticus-Ruber Vermivora-Superciliosa. Condor. vol 70, no 3. p. 271-272.

• Morales-Perez JE & Navarro-Siguenza AG. (1991). Distributional Analysis of the Birds of the Northern Highlands in Guerrero Mexico. Anales del Instituto de Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Serie Zoologia. vol 62, no 3. p. 497-510.