So Cute, Covered In Zebra-like Black And White Stripes, They Look Just Like Flying Humbugs -Meet The Black And White Warbler!

A tiny bird covered in diagnostic zebra-like black and white stripes making it resemble nothing more than a flying humbug!

Meet the Black-and-white warbler


Photo Courtesy of ryanacandee/CC BY 2.0

The black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia), is a species of New World warbler, and the only member of its Mniotilta genus. These birds, measuring 13 cm in length, are boldly striped in almost parallel lines of black and white. Their black wings are highlighted by two wide, white wing bars. Adult males are far more boldly striped with black streaking, especially on their bellies and cheeks.

Photo Courtesy of Wolfgang Wander / CC BY-SA 3.0

Females of this species are paler, with far less streaking with a wash buff on her flanks.

Juveniles are heavily spotted, more similar to first fall individuals.

Photo Courtesy of Bill Chitty/CC BY 2.0

A migratory bird, the Black-and-white warbler breeds in northern and eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida and migrates south to winter in Florida, Central America, and West Indies down to Peru.

Photo Courtesy of ryanacandee/CC BY 2.0

These birds breed in temperate Nearctic lowlands, on hillsides or ravines in a wide variety of woodland types from mature deciduous or mixed stands to northern conifer forests and also second-growth stands of trees. Hunting for food on main branches or trunks of trees.

Photo Courtesy of Channel City Camera Club/CC BY 2.0

Black and white warblers dine on insects and spiders, hunting like a nuthatch, foraging up and down branches and trunks.

Photo Courtesy of Scott Heron/CC BY 2.0

Breeding season is between April and August where the female is the principal nest builder, occasionally offering assistance. Cup-shaped, the nest is built from leaves, coarse grass, and other fine material for lining, placed near the base of a tree or log concealed under leaves or branches. She lays up to 6 white eggs within, flecked with brown, and incubates them for up to 12 days. The male will sometimes feed her during this time with both parents feeding the young after they have hatched. The young become fully-fledged after 8 to 12 days.

Photo Courtesy of ryanacandee/CC BY 2.0

Despite the fact this species population seems to be declining, due to their large range, this decline does not appear to be sufficiently rapid enough to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the ICUN guidelines.

Photo Courtesy of Greg Schechter/CC BY 2.0

Watch and listen to this bird in the video below:

Related Posts

Scientists Discover 400-Year-Old Greenland Shark Likely Born Around 1620

The Greenland shark is currently the longest-living vertebrate known on Earth, according to scientists. Image credit: Dive Magazine The ages of 28 Greenland sharks were determined using…

This Goose Mother Is Taking Care Of 47 Goslings Along With Her Partner

There are many instances in nature where a mother is found taking care of her babies. However a Canadian man named Mike Digout accidentally discovered a mother goose…

The Cuddly Orangutan Offers A Helping Hand To The Man Stuck In Mud

Photo of an orangutan offering an arm to the man standing inside a river has gone viral on social media platforms. The photo was clicked by photographer…

Stunned British Fisherman Catches Ultra-Rare Blue Lobster, Dubbed ‘One in 2 Million,’ and Immediately Releases It

Despite a find that scientists reckon comes with roughly a one in two million chance, a lifelong fisherman threw the ultra-rare and totally blue crustacean back into…

Hilarious Moment Sneaky Whale Pops Up Behind Sightseers As They Look The Wrong Way

It’s behind you! Hilarious moment sneaky whale pops up behind sightseers as they look the wrong way. A group of whale watchers almost missed out on the…

The largest species in the world attracts thousands of tourists to Spain to witness the towering 40-foot high and 8-ton giant bull firsthand.

El Gigante, a magnificent bull, has shattered the world record as the largest bull ever witnessed, standing proudly at an astounding height of 12 meters and weighing…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *