Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

A warbler that behaves like a nuthatch, the Black-and-White Warbler feeds by crawling up and down tree trunks and branches, looking in crevices for insects. They are often found quite low in forest and woodland edges, a habit that makes them quite conspicuous, especially considering their bold black-and-white plumage and unique behavior. A common migrant in South Dakota, Black-and White Warblers are among the earliest spring warblers.

Habitat

Black-and-white Warblers breed in deciduous and mixed woodlands, both mature forest and second-growth forest. During migration and in winter, they are still primarily found in woodlands, but will also sometimes be found in parks, gardens, orchards, and other semi-vegetated habitats.

Diet

Feeds almost exclusively on insects and spiders.

Behavior

Does most of its foraging by clambering along tree branches and tree trunks in search of insects. They may climb upward as they forage like a Brown Creeper or go head first down a trunk like a nuthatch. Will also occasionally fly out from a perch to catch flying insects in mid-air.

Nesting

June and July in South Dakota. The nest of a Black-and-white Warbler is a small cup, constructed of grasses, leaves, and weeds, and lined with finer material such as fine grasses, hair, and moss. It is typically placed on the ground in a protected location at the base of a stump or tree, next to a rock, or clump of vegetation. The female lays between 3 and 6 eggs, and she alone incubates them. The eggs hatch after 10 to 12 days, and the young fledge from the nest after another 10-12 days.

Interactive eBird Map

Click to access an interactive eBird map of Black-and-White Warbler sightings

Song

The song of a male Black-and-White Warbler is a high-pitched, thin weesy-weesy-weesy-weesy. They also have thin tseet calls.

¹Click here to hear a singing male Black-and-white Warbler, taken in Washington County, Maine.

²Click here to hear a simple flight call of a Black-and-white Warbler, taken in Lake County, Minnesota.

Migration

Summers in much of the eastern two-thirds of the United States and southern Canada. Winters along the Gulf Coast and points south, into northern South America.

Similar Species

Blackpoll Warbler - Both are black-and-white warblers with striping. However, Blackpoll Warblers have a solid black cap, while a Black-and-White warbler has a black-and-white striped cap. Blackpoll Warblers have a white cheek framed in black, while the Black-and-White Warbler male has a black cheek Black-and-white Warblers have a white eyebrow stripe above their eye, while Blackpoll Warblers are solid black above the eye.
Black-throated Gray Warbler - A very uncommon species in South Dakota, but it shares an overall black-and-white striped appearance with the Black-and-White Warbler. Black-throated Gray Warblers have a solid gray back, while Black-and-White Warblers have a striped back. Facial patterns are similar between the two with a white eyebrow, extensive black through the eye and cheek (males), framed by a white stripe below. However, the Black-throated Gray Warbler male has a yellow spot in front of his eye.

Conservation Status

Widespread and common, but there is some evidence of local declines from Breeding Bird Survey and other data. However, they're still found over a broad geographic area and populations are currently still strong. The IUCN considers the Black-and-White Warbler to be a species of "least concern".

Further Information

Photo Information

May 24th, 2012 - Acadia National Park, Maine - Terry Sohl

Additional Photos

Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Black-and-white Warbler photos.

Audio File Credits

¹Sue Riffe, XC382120. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/382120.

²Andrew Spencer, XC103496. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/103496