Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Tiny yellow bird with a black skullcap. Flicks its tail constantly while delivering.

Population: ~81 million mature individuals (2019 estimate), declining (~10% over the past decade per BirdLife assessment)
Habitat: Breeds in shrubby thickets, willow/alder stands near water, and boreal/montane forest edges up to ~11,500 ft; on migration and in winter uses shrublands and subtropical/tropical moist forest, including mangroves and cloud forest, from lowlands to high altitude
Fun fact: Males are identified by a small, neat black cap on an otherwise bright yellow head, and Wilson's Warbler is among the smallest warblers found in the United States.
Range: Breeds across northern and western North America (Alaska and Canada south through the western US mountains); winters from Mexico through Central America to northern South America; migrates through nearly all of the lower 48 US states
Diet: Insectivorous; gleans insects and other small arthropods (larval insects, spiders, beetles, caterpillars) from foliage in the understory, often hovering or making short aerial sallies to catch prey; supplements diet with honeydew from scale insects on wintering grounds
Size: 0.11 m
Wingspan: 0.155 m
Lifespan: 8 years

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