Wood-Warblers and Tanagers

 Wood-Warblers - Family Parulidae

Bachman’s Warbler Vermivora bachmanii. Extinct. Historical breeder. Was found along swamp borders with blackberry thickets and cane.

Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus. Breeder. Fairly common in fall, uncommon in spring and summer in Mountain and Tennessee Valley regions. In Gulf Coast region, fairly common in spring, uncommon in fall, and occasional in late summer. In Inland Coastal Plain, uncommon in spring and fall, and occasional in summer. Found in abandoned fields or cut-over areas, usually near water, that contain scattered saplings and dense ground cover; woodlands during migration. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera. Uncommon in fall and rare in spring in all regions. Found in woodlands.

Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina. Common in spring and fall in all regions. Found in woodlands.

Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata. Fairly common in winter, spring, and fall in Gulf Coast region. In Inland Coastal Plain, uncommon in winter, spring, and fall. In Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions, uncommon in spring and fall, and rare in winter. Found in woodlands.

Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla. Uncommon in fall and rare in spring in Tennessee Valley. In Mountain and Gulf Coast regions, rare in spring and fall. In Inland Coastal Plain, rare in fall.  Found in woodlands.

Northern Parula Parula americana. Breeder. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring, summer, and fall, and occasional in winter. In inland regions, fairly common in spring, summer, and fall. Found in tall trees along streams, swamps, and lakes; woodlands during migration. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia. Breeder. Common in spring and fall, and rare in summer in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Inland Coastal Plain region, common in spring and fall, and occasional in summer. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring and fall. Found in small trees and shrubs near water. Lowest Conservation Concern. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica. Occasional breeder. Common in fall, fairly common in spring, and rare in summer in Mountain region. In Tennessee Valley and Gulf Coast regions, common in fall and fairly common in spring. In Inland Coastal Plain region, fairly common in fall and uncommon in spring. Found in woodlands.

Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia. Common in fall, fairly common in spring, and occasional in summer in all regions. Found in woodlands.

CapeMay Warbler Dendroica tigrina. Uncommon in spring, rare in fall, and occasional in winter in inland regions. In Gulf Coast region, fairly common in spring and rare in fall, and occasional in winter. Found in woodlands.

Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens. Uncommon in spring and fall in Gulf Coast region. In inland regions, rare in spring and fall, especially in east. Found in woodlands, especially understory.

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata. Common in winter, spring, and fall in all regions. Found in woodlands. Lowest Conservation Concern.

Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens. Occasional in spring and fall in Gulf Coast region.

Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens. Breeder. Common in fall, fairly common in spring and summer, and occasional in winter in Mountain region. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring and fall, and occasional in winter. In Inland Coastal Plain and Tennessee Valley regions, common in fall, and fairly common in spring. In breeding season, found in coniferous and deciduous forests; in migration, found in woodlands. Lowest Conservation Concern.

Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca. Fairly common in spring and fall, and occasional in summer in Mountain region. In Tennessee Valley region, fairly common in spring and fall. In Gulf Coast region, fairly common in fall, and uncommon in spring. In Inland Coastal Plain, uncommon in spring and fall. Found in woodlands.

Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica. Breeder. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring, summer, and fall, and rare in winter. In inland regions, fairly common in spring, summer, and fall, and occasional in winter. In breeding season, found in older pine forests and woodlands with sycamores, especially near water; in migration, found in woodlands. Low Conservation Concern.

Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus. Breeder. Common in all seasons and regions. Found in mature pine woodlands. Lowest Conservation Concern.

Kirtland’s Warbler Dendroica kirtlandii. Accidental. Hypothetical.

Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall; occasional in winter in inland regions. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring and fall, uncommon in summer, and occasional in winter. Found in brushy early successional growth, particularly regenerating clearcuts. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum. Common in spring and fall, and fairly common in winter in Gulf Coast region. In Inland Coastal Plain region, common in spring, fairly common in fall, and uncommon to locally common in winter. In Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions, common in spring, fairly common in fall, and rare in winter. Found in open areas with scattered shrubs and trees. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea. Fairly common in spring and fall in all regions. Found in woodlands.

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata. Common in spring in all regions, and occasional in fall, mostly in Gulf Coast region. Found in woodlands.

Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea. Breeder. Uncommon in spring and fall, and rare and local in summer in Mountain region. In Tennessee Valley, uncommon in spring and fall, and occasional in summer. In Gulf Coast region, uncommon in spring, and rare in fall. In Inland Coastal Plain, rare in fall and occasional in spring. In breeding season, found in mature bottomland forests along streams; in migration, found in woodlands. HIGHEST CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall, and occasional in winter in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Inland Coastal Plain, common in spring and fall, rare in summer, and occasional in winter. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring and fall, and rare in winter. In breeding season, found in hardwood and mixed hardwood-coniferous forests; in migration, found in woodlands. Low Conservation Concern.

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla. Breeder. Common in spring and fall, and fairly common in summer in Inland Coastal Plain and Gulf Coast regions. Common in spring and fall in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions, and rare to uncommon in summer.  In breeding season, found in deciduous woods, especially riverine systems; in migration, found in woodlands. Low Conservation Concern.

Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and early fall in all regions. Found in swamp and bottomland forests. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus. Breeder. Uncommon in spring, summer, and fall in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Inland Coastal Plain region, uncommon in spring and fall, and rare in summer. In Gulf Coast region, fairly common in spring, uncommon in fall, and rare in late summer. In breeding season, found in shrubby, wooded hillsides and ravines; in migration, found in woodlands and thickets. HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii. Breeder. Fairly common in spring and summer, and uncommon to rare in fall in Gulf Coast, Inland Coastal Plain, and Mountain regions. In Tennessee Valley, rare in spring, summer, and fall. Found in dense thickets in swamps, along streams, and in woodland areas. HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus. Breeder. Fairly common in spring and fall, and locally uncommon to rare in summer in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring, fairly common in fall, and occasional in winter. In Inland Coastal Plain region, fairly common in spring, and uncommon in fall. In breeding season, found in deciduous forests; in migration, found in woodlands, especially with dense understory. Lowest Conservation Concern. 

Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis. Common in spring and fall, and occasional in winter in Gulf Coast region. In inland regions, fairly common in spring and fall. Found along shorelines of swamps, lakes, ponds, and streams.

Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and early fall in inland regions. In Gulf Coast region, common in spring, and rare in late summer and early fall. Found in older bottomland forests along streams. MODERATE CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall in all regions. Found in moist woodlands with dense herbaceous ground cover. HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN.

Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis. Rare in spring and occasional in fall inland. In Gulf Coast region, occasional in spring and fall. Found in brushy, semi-open, moist woodland areas.

Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia. Rare in spring and summer in inland regions. In Gulf Coast, rare in fall. Found in thickets, weedy fields, scrub, and woodland undergrowth.

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall, and fairly common in winter in Gulf Coast region. In Inland Coastal Plain region, common in spring, summer, and fall, and uncommon in winter. In Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions, common in spring, summer, and fall, and rare in winter. Found along woodland edges, and in hedgerows, thickets, marshes, and wet meadows. Low Conservation Concern.

Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall in all regions. In breeding season, found in shrubby forests; in migration, found in woodlands, especially in understory. Low Conservation Concern.

Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla. Uncommon in fall, rare in spring, and occasional in winter in all regions. Found in shrubby areas, especially near water.

Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis. Fairly common in fall and spring in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Inland Coastal Plain region, uncommon in spring and fall. In Gulf Coast region, uncommon in fall and rare in spring. Found in woodlands, especially understory.

Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus. Accidental.

Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall, and occasional in winter in all regions. Found in early successional growth areas. Lowest Conservation Concern.

Tanagers - Family Thraupidae

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall, and occasional in winter in all regions. In breeding season, found in open, mixed hardwood-coniferous forests and along forest edges. Lowest Conservation Concern.

Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea. Breeder. Common in spring, summer, and fall in Tennessee Valley and Mountain regions. In Inland Coastal Plain and Gulf Coast regions, common in spring and fall. In breeding season, found in hardwood forests; in migration, found in woodlands. Low Conservation Concern.

Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana. Rare in spring and fall, and occasional in winter in primarily Gulf Coast region. Found in older pine woodlands.

References Cited:

Mirarchi. Ralph E., ed. 2004. Alabama Wildlife, Volume One.  A Checklist of Vertebrates and Selected Invertebrates: Aquatic Mollusks, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.  The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, AL. 209 pp.