354

NEW WORLD WARBLERS (PARULIDAE; 47+ SPECIES) Large New World

family of small, mainly insect- and nectar-eating birds, ranging from arboreal to terrestrial,

colorful to rather drab. Ages/sexes similar in some species, different in others; attain adult

appearance in 1st year. A few North American migrants have marked seasonal plumage

changes; among species with complex age/sex plumages, adult males generally brightest,

imm. females dullest, with adult female and imm. male falling between these extremes.

Many migrants may sing in spring, mainly Apr–May, as they move north; some also sing in

fall when establishing winter territories. These songs mainly heard briefly in Costa Rica, not

described in species accounts. Chip call notes shorter, more stereotyped, and easier to learn,

often heard in winter; all species also give contact calls (‘flight calls’), mostly high-pitched and

often buzzy, more challenging to distinguish and mostly not described in species accounts.

AMERICAN REDSTART  Setophaga ruticilla 12–13cm. Winter migrant to var-

ied lowland wooded and forested habitats, mangroves. Forages low to high, often

actively fluttering and conspicuous; tail typically fanned to show off big orange

(male) to yellow (female/imm.) patches at base. No similar species if seen well.

Imm. male resembles female but has orangey breast patches, and by spring often

some black spots on head and breast. SOUNDS: High sharp tsip! similar to Yellow

Warbler but slightly higher, sweeter. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common Sep–

Apr on both slopes, to 1500m, rarely higher in migration; smaller numbers from

mid-Aug and into early May. (Breeds N America, winters Mexico to S America.)

(AMERICAN) YELLOW WARBLER  Setophaga [petechia] aestiva 11–12cm.

Winter migrant to varied open and semi-open habitats with trees, hedgerows,

gardens, mangroves, forest edge and clearings. Forages low to high, mainly at

mid–upper levels; territorial. Plumage tones variable (some imm. females almost

colorless), but always rather compact, with pale eyering on open face, pale wing

edgings (no wingbars), yellow undertail patches. Cf. Mangrove Warbler.

SOUNDS: High, sharp, ‘generic’ warbler chip! good to learn for comparison with

other species. STATUS: Fairly common to common Sep–Apr on both slopes, to

1500m; smaller numbers from Aug and into mid-May, rarely to 2100m. (Breeds

N America to Mexico, winters Mexico to nw. S America.)

MANGROVE [YELLOW] WARBLER  Setophaga petechia 11.5–12.5cm. Resident

in mangroves, rarely adjacent habitats. Note shorter primary projection and

different voice than migrant Yellow Warbler, which occurs alongside in winter.

Adult male Mangrove distinctive, with chestnut head, fine rusty streaking below;

imm. and female like Yellow Warbler but often with some rusty markings on face.

SOUNDS: Sharp chuip, lower and fuller than Yellow Warbler, can suggest Ovenbird.

Song a bright, fairly fast, warbled series of sweet chips, 1.5–2 secs; averages richer,

lower, and more varied than Yellow Warbler song. STATUS: Common to fairly

common on Pacific coast, rather local on Caribbean coast (from Moín to

Matina). (Mexico to nw. S America.)

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER  Protonotaria citrea 13–14cm. Winter migrant

mainly to mangroves, swampy woodland; in migration also forest and edge,

second growth, usually near water. Mainly low in bushes and trees over water,

but migrants can be at mid–upper levels in fruiting trees and shrubs. Distinctive,

with stout pointed bill, yellow head and breast, plain blue-gray wings, white

undertail patches. SOUNDS: High tinny tchín, less emphatic than Northern

Waterthrush. STATUS: Fairly common to common Sep–Mar on Pacific slope,

rare on Caribbean slope, mainly coastal but locally to 1200m; more widespread

in migration, Aug–Oct, Mar–Apr, when common on Caribbean slope and

rarely to 2500m. (Breeds e. N America, winters Mexico to nw. S America.)