A medium-sized (5 ½ inches) wood warbler, the Kentucky Warbler is most easily identified by its olive-green back, yellow breast and throat, black eye-stripes, and yellow eye-rings. Other field marks include a short tail, pale legs, and thin bill. Male and female Kentucky Warblers are similar to one another in all seasons. The Kentucky Warbler breeds in the eastern and southeastern United States from New York south to northern Florida and west to Oklahoma. This species is a long-distance migrant, wintering from central Mexico south to northern South America. Despite this species’ small size, Kentucky Warblers cross the Gulf of Mexico twice a year while on migration, and are occasionally reported resting on ships in the Gulf. Kentucky Warblers breed in thick deciduous forests with large amounts of undergrowth, particularly those near water. In winter, this species inhabits humid tropical forests with similar quantities of undergrowth to those forests used during the summer. Kentucky Warblers eat small invertebrates, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Due to this species’ preference for heavily vegetated habitats, Kentucky Warblers are much more easily heard than seen. Birdwatchers may listen for this species’ “churry-churry-churry-churry” song, or may attempt to observe it foraging for insects deep in the undergrowth. Kentucky Warblers are primarily active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
The Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa) is a small species of New World warbler. It is a sluggish and heavy warbler with a short tail, preferring to spend most of its time on or near the ground, except when singing.
Adult Kentucky warblers are mostly an olive-green in color on their back and nape, and a brilliant yellow below from their throat to their belly. They have a small tinge of black on their crown, and a large black mask with a yellow pattern that runs from the beak and encircles the eyes, resembling a pair of spectacles. Female Kentucky warblers have slightly less black on the sides of their head, and immature birds may have almost no black at all.
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The Kentucky warbler is a scarce bird with a large range, frequenting moist deciduous forests. It is migratory, spending summer in the central and eastern United States, often ranging as far north as Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. Come fall and winter the Kentucky warbler will migrate back to the Yucatán Peninsula and the many islands of the Caribbean, flying non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico. In 2007, the Kentucky warbler was seen as far west as Farmington, New Mexico.
Kentucky warblers nest on the ground hidden at the base of a shrub or in a patch of weeds in an area of ample vegetation. The female will lay between 3 and 6 eggs, which are white or cream-colored and speckled with brown. Incubation is done by the female only, and lasts for about 12 days. The young Kentucky warblers usually leave the nest about 10 days after hatching.
The Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa) is a small species of New World warbler. It is a sluggish and heavy warbler with a short tail, preferring to spend most of its time on or near the ground, except when singing.
