Olive Warbler
Olive Warbler
Peucedramus taeniatus
At a Glance
In forests of pine, fir, and oak in southwestern mountains, the Olive Warbler is common in summer and sometimes remains through winter. As it searches for insects high in the trees, it might seem like a typical warbler, aside from its soft whistled callnote and the copper-colored head of the adult male. But DNA studies show that it is quite distinct, so it is now placed in its own family.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Olive Warblers, Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Arroyos and Canyons, Forests and Woodlands
Region
Southwest
Behavior
Direct Flight, Flitter, Undulating
Population
1.900.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Thought to be mostly a summer resident in our area, but at least some remain through winter. Becomes common in mountain forests by March, and can still be found in numbers into October.
Description
4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Adult male has copper-brown head with black ear patch; gray back, white wing-bars. On young male, copper replaced by yellow. Female has pale yellow face, dull ear patch; compare to female Hermit Warbler.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Gray, Orange, Tan, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Long, Pointed
Tail Shape
Notched, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Song a whistled, titmouse-like series of phrases: peter-peter-peter. Call a down-slurred kew.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat, Undulating
Call Type
Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Whistle
Habitat
Pine and fir forests of high mountains. Breeds in mountain pine forests, generally at elevations of 6,000' and above. Prefers ponderosa pine, but also occurs in other pines, firs, Douglas-firs, and in adjacent oaks. In winter, at least some individuals move down into oak woodlands in lower foothills.
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Behavior
Eggs
Usually 3-4. Bluish-white with olive and brown marks at large end. Female incubates (and male might also?), but length of incubation period and roles of the parents are poorly known.
Young
Probably both parents feed the nestlings, but details (including age at which young leave the nest) are not well known.
Feeding Behavior
Usually forages in the upper one-third of pines and other trees. Creeps over branches and twigs of pines, taking insects from the twigs and from the bases of needle clusters. When not breeding, often seen foraging in mixed flocks including other warblers and also titmice, nuthatches, and other birds.
Diet
Probably mostly insects. Details of the diet are not well known. Has been observed feeding on insects, and these undoubtedly make up majority of food.
Nesting
Details of breeding behavior not well studied, partly owing to the placement of its nest in the upper reaches of trees. Nest: Placed from 30'-70' up, usually in pine, and usually 15-20' out from the trunk on a branch. Nest (built by female) is an open cup of moss, lichen, pine bud scales, pine needles; lined with the soft white plant fibers from the underside of silver oak leaves, and rootlets.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Within its limited range in our area, numbers probably stable. Could be vulnerable to loss of habitat with cutting of forest farther south.
Climate Threats Facing the Olive Warbler
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.