"Bird of the Month" Profiles:

Black-throated Green Warbler
(Dendroica virens )

Length: 5 inches
Wingspan: 8 inches
Weight: 9 grams
Diet: Insects

Beginning in August, Black-throated Green Warblers move south from the breeding grounds, east of the Great Plains, to the winter grounds in eastern and southern Mexico and Central America. Small numbers winter in south Florida, the Bahamas and Greater Antilles, south Texas, and northern South America. Most follow the Gulf Coast overland through Mexico but many cross the Gulf directly to southern Mexico.

There appears to be some seasonal movement within the wintering grounds in response to rainfall, departing areas as the local dry season begins. In Central America, this results in a shift from the Pacific slope to the Atlantic slope around December.

Spring migration begins in March and is essentially the reverse of fall migration. Most reach the breeding grounds in late April and May, though the coastal swamp subspecies arrives in late March, several weeks ahead of birds nesting due west in the mountains.

(Birding content courtesy of Boreal Songbird Initiative & eNature)

Range and Migration Map

Arrows represent general migration routes. The arrows do not necessarily link specific breeding and wintering grounds.

The following shade-grown varieties of COFFEE FOR THE BIRDS™ help to preserve winter habitat for this species:

• Mexico
• Mexico Decaf
• Guatemala
• Guatemala VR
• Costa Rica