Family New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Least Concern
Audubon's Warbler (Setophaga auduboni)
Taxonomy
French: Paruline d’Audubon German: Audubonwaldsänger Spanish: Reinita de Audubon
Taxonomy:
Sylvia Auduboni
J. K. Townsend
, 1837,“forests of Columbia river” [= near Fort Vancouver, Clarke County, Washington]
.
Subspecies and Distribution
S. a. auduboni
(J. K. Townsend, 1837) – Audubon's Warbler – W North America from N British Columbia, W Alberta and Montana S in mountains to extreme NW Mexico (N Baja California) and S USA (W Texas); winters mainly in SW USA and Mexico (locally also S to Honduras).
S. a. nigrifrons
(Brewster, 1889) – Black-fronted Warbler – W Mexico (Chihuahua and Durango).
S. a. goldmani
(Nelson, 1897) – Goldman's Warbler – C Guatemala; possibly also S Mexico (SE Chiapas).
Descriptive notes
c. 14–15 cm; male 10–16 g, female 10–14 g. Compared to S. coronata, nominate breeding male has yellow vs. white throat (not extending... read more
Voice
Song variable, similar to that of S. coronata, a slow warble typically... read more
Habitat
Breeds in montane coniferous forest and pine–oak (Pinus–Quercus)... read more
Food and feeding
Consumes a variety of insects and other arthropods in summer. Feeds extensively on invertebrates in winter too, but also takes fruit and... read more
Breeding
Season May–Aug, egg-laying May–Jul; may raise two broods per year, but such behaviour apparently uncommon. Nest an open cup of... read more
Movements
Mainly a short-distance to long-distance migrant, although S race goldmani essentially... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Like S. coronata, one of the most abundant of the North American wood-warblers; forms large flocks in winter. Most... read more
Usually treated as conspecific with S. coronata, but differs in its yellow vs white throat, yellow extending less far back under ear-coverts (3); white wingpanel (usually but not always; ns); white spots on 4–5 vs 2–3 outer rectrices (2); lack or only trace of white supercilium (ns[1]); grey vs blackish ear-coverts (2); more complete grey breast with less blackish streaking (ns[1]); song with on average fewer notes at usually lower frequency (1) and call note distinctly upslurred vs sharply overslurred (2)#R; narrow hybrid zone (2). One record of hybridization (by nominate race) with S. graciae. S sedentary races nigrifrons and goldmani may represent two separate species, but nigrifrons is intermediate between nominate and goldmani (which is the most distinctive genetically)#R#R; one recent genetic study proposed that at least S. coronata, S. auduboni and goldmani should be treated as species, and nigrifrons either as conspecific with goldmani or as a fourth species#R. Proposed race memorabilis (described from Boulder County, in Colorado), considered indistinguishable from nominate. Three subspecies recognized.