Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Sterling Forest, New York, May 2008

A bird of shrubby second-growth habitat on its northeastern U.S. breeding grounds, the beautiful Blue-winged Warbler winters mainly in Mexico to Panama (rarely in the Caribbean) and has been discovered to be newly wintering in Bermuda.

Like many shrubland bird species the Blue-winged Warbler is showing population declines across its range. Populations expanded during the 1800s (possibly in response to forest clearance) and began to contract again as the forests re-grew and urban development spread. Suburban expansion is certainly depleting breeding habitat for the species: for example, nine former breeding sites in northeastern Ohio have been converted to housing developments and Blue-winged Warblers no longer breed there. Tropical deforestation to make way for coffee plantations and other monoculture-type crops may be reducing the species’ winter range. Conservation concerns are highest in the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, and Alabama. (Adapted from the Audubon website)

These photos were taken on a visit to Sterling Forest with Mike in May 2008 - for an account of out trip go to Sterling Birding at Sterling Forest.

Photographs copyright Charlie Moores