Birdsong field guide
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
A small, bright yellow songbird easily identified by the male's distinct black cap and constant, restless tail-flicking behavior.
What it sounds like
A rapid, staccato series of 'chi-chi-chi' notes that typically drops in pitch toward the end.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is one of the smallest North American warblers, often weighing less than 10 grams.
- Unlike many wood-warblers that forage in the high canopy, this species stays low in dense undergrowth and riparian thickets.
- The species exhibits subtle clinal variation, with western populations appearing much brighter yellow than those in the east.
- Named after Alexander Wilson, the 'Father of American Ornithology,' who described the bird in 1811.
- It is a highly active insectivore that frequently employs 'hover-gleaning' to capture prey from the underside of leaves.
Habitat
Willow thickets, alder carrs, and shrubby mountain meadows, typically near water.
Range
Breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the western United States; winters in Mexico and Central America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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