Pine Warbler

photo by Phil Swanson

Dendroica pinus
L 5 1/2″ (14 cm).

Song or calls:
Song is twittering musical trill.

Description: Unstreaked olive-green upperparts; blackish wings with two white wing bars; relatively large bill; short undertail coverts make tail look long; dark cheek patch. Male has yellow throat and breast; dark streaking on sides; white belly and undertail coverts. Female is duller.

Behavior: Deliberately creeps while foraging over trunks and branches.

Habitat: Migrants are found in a wide variety of forests, especially pine forests. Also occurs in deciduous forests and orchards.

Where in Nebraska: Rare migrant in eastern Nebraska. No records farther west than Antelope County. Most of records are from Lancaster County.

Fun Facts: The scientific name describes its habitat; dendron (a tree), oicos (inhabits) and pinus (pines)

Pine Warbler - photo by Phil Swanson
(click image for larger view)