Golden-winged Warbler
photo by Phil Swanson
Vermivora chrysoptera
L 4 3/4″ (12 cm).
Song or calls:
Song is soft “bee-bz-bz-bz.” Longer than similar song of Blue-winged Warbler.
Description: Long, slender bill. White tail spots conspicuous from below. Bluish-gray above, grayish-white below. Male has black throat; black ear patch bordered in white; yellow crown and wing patch. Female is similar, but duller.
Habitat: Second-growth woodlands, scrubby thickets, and overgrown pastures.
Where in Nebraska: Rare spring and fall migrant in eastern Nebraska. Vagrants occur west to Logan and Keith Counties. No breeding records.
Status: Population is declining.
Field Notes: Hybridizes with Blue-winged Warbler, with offspring singing the song of either or both parents, or variations all their own.
Fun Facts: Golden-winged Warbler’s often hybridize with Blue-winged Warbler making the individuals look like crosses, however, they sing the song for either the Golden-winged Warbler or the Blue-winged Warbler.