Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Golden-winged Warblers are undergoing a serious decline as their close relative, the Blue-winged Warbler, expands its range northward.  Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers sometimes interbreed, creating a wide variety of intermediate offspring.  Golden-winged warblers have a quite narrow breeding range which includes the Great Lakes region and much of the Appalachians.

Habitat: Generally deciduous forest during migration through the state.  Breeds in shrubby areas with scattered trees.

Diet: Primarily insects.

Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota.

Song: Golden-winged Warbler Song

Migrations: Summers in a relatively narrow area around the Great Lakes and through the Appalachians.  Winters in Central and South America.

Similar Species: Quite distinctive, although hybrid Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warblers can be very confusing.

Status: In serious declines throughout much of it's range.  Golden-winged Warblers are losing ground to competition with Blue-winged Warblers, cowbird parasitism, and habitat loss.

Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Golden-winged Warbler

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Golden-winged Warbler"

3) E-nature.com: Golden-winged Warbler

Photo Information: May 20th, 2002 -- EROS Data Center, Minnehaha County -- Terry L. Sohl

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This page was last edited on 02/03/08