Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Grace's Warbler -- Dendroica graciae


RANGE: Breeds from southern Nevada, southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and western Texas south through the mountains of western Mexico to Nicaragua. Winters in northern Mexico; resident from central Mexico southward.

STATUS: Locally common in pine-oak forests above 7,000 feet.

HABITAT: Typically inhabits pine forests, usually in the upper portions of yellow pines. Sometimes inhabits hemlock and fir woodlands, and occasionally oak thickets; generally from 6,000 to 9,000 feet.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Pine forests approximately 7,000 feet in elevation.

NEST: Locates nest on limbs of pine trees up to 60 feet above the ground, sometimes in the middle of bunches of pine needles. Builds a very compact nest composed of a variety of grass fibers, hair, vegetable material, and insect webbing, often hidden from view.

FOOD: Commonly gleans food (almost entirely insects) from leaves and branches of pines, as well as hemlocks and spruces. Most commonly forages in the very upper canopies of the tree, but sometimes catches flying insects on the wing.

REFERENCES: Griscom and Sprunt 1979.


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