Golden-cheeked warbler Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Golden-cheeked warbler

Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

Range of S. chrysoparia Breeding range Winter range
Synonyms
Dendroica chrysoparia Sclater & Salvin, 1861

The golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) is a small bird that breeds only in Central Texas. It is the only bird species that nests entirely within Texas. This special bird is an endangered species, meaning it is at risk of disappearing forever.

A drawing of the golden-cheeked warbler from 1890.

About the Golden-cheeked Warbler

This warbler is easy to spot because of its bright yellow cheeks. These stand out against its black throat and back. You can also identify it by its unique buzzing song. This song comes from the wooded canyons where it builds its nests.

Golden-cheeked warblers nest in 33 counties in central Texas. They need a special tree called the Ashe Juniper (also known as blueberry juniper or cedar). They use thin strips of bark from this tree to build their nests.

Where They Live and Travel

The Golden-cheeked Warbler lives in many state parks across Texas. Some of these parks include Colorado Bend State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, and Pedernales Falls State Park.

These warblers are found only in Texas. Their homes can be in both wet and dry areas of central and southern Texas. For nesting, they like tall, dense forests of mature Ashe juniper trees. They also like Texas, shin, live, Lacey, and post oak trees. In drier parts of Texas, they live in juniper-oak woodlands on flat land.

They build their nests using Ashe juniper bark and spider webs. Female warblers usually lay three to four eggs. When winter comes, they move to places with evergreen forests. These forests are usually found at higher elevations.

Migration Journey

Golden-cheeked Warblers stay in Texas only for their breeding season. This season lasts from March to June. They then fly south with other songbirds along Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. By the first week of March, the warblers return to Texas to breed again. During the winter (November to February), they travel to countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico.

Warbler Behavior

Warblers build their nests only in Texas. They mostly use juniper trees, but sometimes they also nest in oak trees and cedar elms. In winter, they fly to warmer places in Mexico and Northern Central America.

After winter, the adult male warblers return to their nesting areas about five days before the females. This gives them time to get ready to attract female warblers. Male warblers get the females' attention by making "chip" sounds. They also use these sounds as a warning if there is danger nearby.

Male warblers spend their time singing or looking for food. Female warblers have the important job of building the nest. They also keep the eggs warm until they hatch. Warblers only nest once each season. They lay three to four eggs, which take about twelve days to hatch. Female warblers are often shy and are not noticed as much as the singing males.

Warblers find their food in two main ways. They often pick insects off leaves and branches. This is called gleaning. They also wait at the edge of branches. When an insect flies by, they quickly snatch it. This is called sallying.

Diet and Feeding Habits

The Golden-cheeked Warbler eats many kinds of insects and spiders. Caterpillars are a very important food source for them during the breeding season. These birds eat only insects. They catch insects by flying and plucking them from different surfaces.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Once a female warbler chooses a mate, she builds the nest all by herself. The nest is made of strips of juniper bark, small roots, grasses, cobwebs, and cocoons. It can also have animal fur to make the outside cozy. Almost all warbler nests contain juniper bark. Females do not seem to build a nest without it.

Golden-cheeked warblers lay 3-4 creamy-white eggs. Each egg is less than three-quarters of an inch long and half an inch wide. The female starts keeping the eggs warm about one day before the last egg is laid. She incubates the eggs for about 12 days. The male warbler usually does not help much during this time. He only joins the female when she leaves the nest to find insects. The young birds grow quickly and leave the nest after 9–12 days. The family stays together in their territory for up to a month. After that, the young birds become independent.

Protecting the Warbler

The warbler's nesting area is quite small, only about twenty acres. This means there are not many places for them to live. Many of their homes have been cleared to build houses, roads, and stores. Land has also been cleared to grow crops or grass for livestock. Juniper trees, which are key for their nests, have also been cut down. This happened a lot before the 1940s. Some woodlands were even flooded when large lakes were built.

The Golden-cheeked Warbler has been on the endangered list since May 1990. Many projects are now working to restore their habitat. One effort is the Safe Harbor agreement. This is a plan between Environmental Defense and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its goal is to rebuild and create new, safe homes for the warbler and other endangered species.

Another project is the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP). This plan is building warbler preserves. The goal is to add a total of 41,000 acres to the warbler's habitat. These projects encourage landowners to learn about the warbler. This way, local landowners can help protect the warbler's home. The U.S. Army at Fort Hood has also helped a lot. They successfully protected the largest area of juniper-oak trees for the warbler.

Population Changes

The biggest problem for the Golden-cheeked Warbler is the loss of its habitat. Because they need a very specific type of home, they are very vulnerable. City development has taken away a lot of their available living space.

Between 1962 and 1974, the warbler population dropped by an estimated 8 to 12 percent. In 2015, surveys counted 716 singing males within 39 acres in Texas. This shows how important it is to protect their remaining homes.

Threats to Survival

The main threat to the golden-cheeked warbler is the fast loss of its habitat. Their specific needs for a home make them very vulnerable. City growth has taken away much of their available habitat.

Too much grazing by animals like White-tailed deer, goats, and other hoofed animals also harms their habitat. These animals eat young oak and other deciduous trees. These trees are important for the warblers' habitat.

Also, the Brown-headed cowbird is a brood parasite. This means it lays its eggs in other birds' nests and then leaves them. Scientists are still studying how much this affects the Golden-cheeked Warbler population. Often, warblers will raise the cowbird chicks along with their own. This can reduce the chances of the young Golden-cheeked Warblers surviving.