Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Black-and-white Warbler -- Mniotilta varia

RANGE: Breeds from west-central Mackenzie, northern Alberta, and central Saskatchewan to southern Quebec and Newfoundland; south to eastern Montana, central Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Winters from southern Texas and Florida through Mexico to South America.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Generally associated with semiopen upland stands of deciduous or mixed forests; usually not abundant in coniferous forests. Found in mature and second-growth forests, especially those composed of immature or scrubby trees.

NEST: Builds nest in a slight depression in the ground, usually at the base of a tree or stump, beside a log, or sometimes in the roots of a fallen tree.

FOOD: Mainly eats insects, but it also gleans many spiders and daddy longlegs from tree trunks and larger tree limbs.

REFERENCES: Bent 1953a, Forbush and May 1955, Griscom and Sprunt 1979, Smith 1934.

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