Golden-crowned warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden-crowned warbler |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Basileuterus
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| Species: |
culicivorus
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| Range of B. culicivorus | |
The golden-crowned warbler (scientific name: Basileuterus culicivorus) is a small, colorful bird. It's a type of New World warbler, known for its bright yellow belly and special crown.
Contents
Where the Golden-crowned Warbler Lives
This little bird lives in many places. You can find it from Mexico all the way south through Central America. It also lives in northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, and on the island of Trinidad. Golden-crowned warblers mostly like to live in forests that are not too high up, often called lowland forests.
What Does the Golden-crowned Warbler Look Like?
The golden-crowned warbler is about 12.7 centimeters (5 inches) long. It weighs around 10 grams (0.35 ounces). This is about the same weight as a few paperclips!
Its back and wings are grey-green. Its belly and chest are a bright, sunny yellow. The head is grey with a black stripe around a yellow crown. It also has a yellow or white stripe above its eye. A black stripe goes through its eye.
Both male and female warblers look similar. Young golden-crowned warblers are not as bright. They are more brownish and do not have the full head pattern yet.
Different Kinds of Golden-crowned Warblers
There are 13 different groups of golden-crowned warblers. These groups live in different areas. They can look a little bit different from each other.
For example, the birds in Central America often have a yellow crown stripe. Some groups in the southwest have grey backs and a white stripe above their eye. Other groups in the southeast have a white stripe above their eye and an orange-red crown stripe.
Sometimes, scientists think these different groups might be separate species. But for now, they are all considered golden-crowned warblers.
Golden-crowned Warbler Behaviour and Life Cycle
These birds are insect eaters. They mostly feed on insects and spiders. They search for food among the leaves and branches.
The golden-crowned warbler has a distinct song. It sounds like a high, thin pit-seet-seet-seet-seet. Their call is a sharp tsip.
When it's time to lay eggs, the female builds a special nest. It's a domed nest, shaped like a little dome. She places it in a bank, often near a forest path. Sometimes, she builds it under leaves on the forest floor. She lays two to four white eggs. These eggs have rufous (reddish-brown) spots.
Parent birds are very protective of their nests. If a predator comes too close, they might pretend to be hurt. This trick helps to distract the predator away from their precious eggs or chicks.
