Kentucky Warbler
photo by Phil Swanson
Oporornis formosus
L 5 1/4″ (13 cm).
Song or calls:
Song is series of rolling musical “churry churry churry” notes; similar to Carolina Wren.
Description: Short-tailed and long-legged. Bright olive upperparts; completely bright yellow underparts; bold yellow spectacles separate black crown from black on face and sides of neck. Black areas are duller on female.
Behavior: Nests and feeds on the ground in dense undergrowth.
Habitat: Found in rich, moist woodlands, ravines, and bottomlands.
Where in Nebraska: Rare to uncommon spring and fall migrant in southeastern Nebraska, and summer resident in lower part of Missouri Valley, north to Sarpy County.
Fun Facts: They prefer dense understory woodlands for habitat, but increasing numbers of foraging deer are decreasing their available habitat.