Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Red-faced Warbler -- Cardellina rubrifrons


RANGE: Breeds from central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into Mexico to western Durango. Winters in the highlands of Mexico to El Salvador and western Honduras.

STATUS: Locally common.

HABITAT: Prefers Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce forests at elevations of 6,500 to 9,000 feet, but also inhabits ponderosa pine, oak, aspen, and riparian stands and seems to favor southern exposures.

NEST: Places nest nearly always on the ground, concealed beneath or beside a sheltering log, rock, sapling, or tuft of grass, usually on a well-drained bank or hillside.

FOOD: Searches for food through the outer branches of conifer trees and flycatches. Primarily eats insects. (Food habits have not been studied.)

REFERENCES: Griscom and Sprunt 1979, Scott and Gottfried 1983.


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