General

Kirtland's Warbler: Rare, medium-sized warbler with black-streaked gray upperparts and yellow underparts with black streaks on sides. Face is black with broken white eye-ring. Legs, feet, and bill are black. Female, winter adult, and juvenile are duller with yellow breasts and white bellies, and lack black masks.

Range and Habitat

Kirtland's Warbler: Breeds in upper and lower Michigan in 13 counties from Lake Huron west to Kalkaska County, and from Presque Isle County south to Ogemaw County. Winters throughout the Bahama Islands. Nests exclusively in young jack-pine forests 80 acres or larger with numerous small, grassy openings. Winters in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos.

Breeding and Nesting

Kirtland's Warbler: Four to six white or pale pink eggs with brown flecks and spots are laid in a ground nest made of bark strips and vegetable fibers, and lined with grass and pine needles. Incubation ranges from 13 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Kirtland's Warbler: Diet consists of insects, including caterpillars, butterflies, moths, flies, and grasshoppers; also eats blueberries.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water, Fruit, Nut Pieces

Vocalization

Kirtland's Warbler: Song is a clear "chip-chip-che-way-o."

Similar Species

Kirtland's Warbler: Prairie and Palm warblers have yellow rumps and faces and lack the broken eye-ring.