New World warbler

New World warbler
Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Superfamily:	Emberizoidea
Family:	Parulidae Wetmore et al., 1947
Type genus
Parula Bonaparte, 1838
Synonyms
Mniotiltidae

The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds that make up the family Parulidae and are restricted to the New World. The family contains 120 species. They are not closely related to Old World warblers or Australian warblers. Most are arboreal, but some, like the ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are primarily terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Contents

• Taxonomy
• Extant Genera
• Former species
• Description
• References
• Further reading
• External links

This group likely originated in northern Central America, where the greatest number of species and diversity between them is found. From there, they spread north during the interglacial periods, mainly as migrants, returning to the ancestral region in winter. Two genera, Myioborus and Basileuterus , seem to have colonized South America early, perhaps before the two continents were linked, and together constitute most warbler species of that region.

The scientific name for the family, Parulidae, originates from the fact that Linnaeus in 1758 named the northern parula as a tit, Parus americanus, and as taxonomy developed, the genus name was modified first to Parulus and then to Parula . The family name derives from the name for the genus.

Taxonomy

The family Parulidae was introduced for the New World warblers in 1947 by American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore and collaborators with Parula as the type genus. ^[3] Parula is now considered as a junior synonym of Setophaga . ^[2]

The family was formerly thought to be sister to a clade containing the yellow-breasted chat in its own family Icteriidae, the wrenthrush in its own family Zeledoniidae, the two Cuban warblers in the family Teretistridae and the 109 species in the family Icteridae. ^{[4] [1]} However, more recent studies recover them as sister to a clade containing just the yellow-breasted chat and the Icteridae, with the clade containing all three families being sister to a clade containing the chat-tanagers in Calyptophilidae, the wrenthrush, and the Phaenicophilidae. ^[5]

A molecular phylogenetic study of the Parulidae published in 2010 found that the species formed several major clades that did not align with the traditional genera. ^[2] This led to a major reorganization of the species within the family to create monotypic genera. The changes have generally followed the recommendations of the authors of the study except in a few cases where the proposed genera were split to separate basal species from their proposed conspecifics. ^{[1] [2]}

A large clade that included the 29 species then placed in the genus Dendroica, also included four species of Parula, one of the three species of Wilsonia and the monotypic genera Catharopeza and Setophaga . All members of the clade apart from the basal Catharopeza were placed in the expanded genus Setophaga Swainson, 1827, which under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, had priority over Dendroica Gray, 1842, Wilsonia Bonaparte, 1838, and Parula Bonaparte, 1838. ^{[1] [2]}

The species that had traditionally been placed in Basileuterus formed two clades. One group retains the genus name as it includes the golden-crowned warbler, the type species for the genus. The other larger group, now with 18 species, is placed in the resurrected genus Myiothlypis Cabanis, 1850, as it contains the type species, the black-crested warbler. ^{[1] [2]}

The genus Myioborus containing the whitestarts remained unchanged after the reorganization but six genera were no longer used: Dendroica, Ergaticus, Euthlypis, Parula, Wilsonia and Phaeothlypis. ^{[1] [2]}

Extant Genera

The family Parulidae now contains 120 species divided into 18 genera. ^[1]

Image	Genus	Living Species
	Seiurus Swainson, 1827	Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
	Helmitheros Rafinesque, 1819	Worm-eating warbler , Helmitheros vermivorum
	Parkesia Sangster, 2008	Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
	Vermivora Swainson, 1827	Bachman's warbler, †Vermivora bachmanii (Extinct: Between 1988 and 2023) Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
	Mniotilta Vieillot, 1816	Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
	Protonotaria Baird, 1858	Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea
	Limnothlypis Stone, 1914	Swainson's warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
	Oreothlypis Ridgway, 1884	Flame-throated warbler, Oreothlypis gutturalis Crescent-chested warbler, Oreothlypis superciliosa
	Leiothlypis Sangster, 2008	Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata Colima warbler, Leiothlypis crissalis Lucy's warbler, Leiothlypis luciae Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla Virginia's warbler, Leiothlypis virginiae
	Leucopeza Sclater, 1876	Semper's warbler, Leucopeza semperi
	Oporornis Baird, 1858	Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis
	Geothlypis Cabanis, 1847	Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas Belding's yellowthroat, Geothlypis beldingi Altamira yellowthroat, Geothlypis flavovelata Bahama yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata New Providence yellowthroat, †Geothlypis rostrata rostrata (extinct: 1990s?) Olive-crowned yellowthroat, Geothlypis semiflava Black-polled yellowthroat, Geothlypis speciosa Masked yellowthroat, Geothlypis aequinoctialis Southern yellowthroat, Geothlypis velata Black-lored yellowthroat, Geothlypis auricularis Chiriqui yellowthroat, Geothlypis chiriquensis Gray-crowned yellowthroat, Geothlypis poliocephala Hooded yellowthroat, Geothlypis nelsoni MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa
	Catharopeza P.L. Sclater, 1880	Whistling warbler, Catharopeza bishopi
	Setophaga Swainson, 1827	Plumbeous warbler, Setophaga plumbea Elfin woods warbler, Setophaga angelae Arrowhead warbler, Setophaga pharetra Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina American redstart. Setophaga ruticilla Kirtland's warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea Northern parula, Setophaga americana Tropical parula, Setophaga pitiayumi Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca American yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum Olive-capped warbler, Setophaga pityophila Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus Myrtle warbler, Setophaga coronata Audubon's warbler, Setophaga auduboni Black-fronted warbler, Setophaga auduboni nigrifrons Goldman's warbler, Setophaga goldmani Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica Bahama warbler, Setophaga flavescens Vitelline warbler, Setophaga vitellina Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor Adelaide's warbler, Setophaga adelaidae Barbuda warbler, Setophaga subita Saint Lucia warbler, Setophaga delicata Grace's warbler, Setophaga graciae Black-throated grey warbler, Setophaga nigrescens Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi Hermit warbler, Setophaga occidentalis Golden-cheeked warbler, Setophaga chrysoparia Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
	Myiothlypis Cabanis, 1850	Citrine warbler, Myiothlypis luteoviridis Santa Marta warbler, Myiothlypis basilica White-striped warbler, Myiothlypis leucophrys Flavescent warbler, Myiothlypis flaveola Gray-headed warbler, Myiothlypis griseiceps White-rimmed warbler, Myiothlypis leucoblephara Black-crested warbler, Myiothlypis nigrocristata Pale-legged warbler, Myiothlypis signata Buff-rumped warbler, Myiothlypis fulvicauda Riverbank warbler, Myiothlypis rivularis Two-banded warbler, Myiothlypis bivittata Cuzco warbler, Myiothlypis chrysogaster Choco warbler, Myiothlypis chlorophrys White-lored warbler, Myiothlypis conspicillata Grey-throated warbler, Myiothlypis cinereicollis Grey-and-gold warbler, Myiothlypis fraseri Russet-crowned warbler, Myiothlypis coronata
	Basileuterus Cabanis, 1848	Golden-crowned warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus White-bellied warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus hypoleucus Three-banded warbler, Basileuterus trifasciatus Rufous-capped warbler, Basileuterus rufifrons Chestnut-capped warbler, Basileuterus delattrii Golden-browed warbler, Basileuterus belli Black-cheeked warbler, Basileuterus melanogenys Pirre warbler, Basileuterus ignotus Three-striped warbler, Basileuterus tristriatus Yungas warbler, Basileuterus punctipectus Black-eared warbler, Basileuterus melanotis Tacarcuna warbler, Basileuterus tacarcunae Fan-tailed warbler, Basileuterus lachrymosus
	Cardellina Bonaparte, 1850	Canada warbler – Cardellina canadensis Wilson's warbler – Cardellina pusilla Red-faced warbler – Cardellina rubrifrons Red warbler – Cardellina rubra Pink-headed warbler – Cardellina versicolor
	Myioborus Baird, 1865	Painted whitestart, Myioborus pictus Slate-throated whitestart, Myioborus miniatus Brown-capped whitestart, Myioborus brunniceps Yellow-crowned whitestart, Myioborus flavivertex White-fronted whitestart, Myioborus albifrons Golden-fronted whitestart, Myioborus ornatus Spectacled whitestart, Myioborus melanocephalus Collared whitestart, Myioborus torquatus Paria whitestart, Myioborus pariae White-faced whitestart, Myioborus albifacies Guaiquinima whitestart, Myioborus cardonai Tepui whitestart, Myioborus castaneocapillus

Description

All the warblers are fairly small. The smallest species is Lucy's warbler (Oreothlypis luciae), with a weight of around 6.5 g (0.23 oz) and an average length of 10.6 cm (4.2 in). The Parkesia waterthrushes, the ovenbird, the russet-crowned warbler, and Semper's warbler, all of which can exceed 15 cm (5.9 in) and 21 g (0.74 oz), may be considered the largest.

The migratory species tend to lay larger clutches of eggs, typically up to six, since the hazards of their journeys mean that many individuals will have only one chance to breed. In contrast, the laying of two eggs is typical for many tropical species, since the chicks can be provided with better care, and the adults are likely to have further opportunities for reproduction.

Many migratory species, particularly those which breed further north, have distinctive male plumage at least in the breeding season, since males need to reclaim territory and advertise for mates each year. This tendency is particularly marked in the large genus Setophaga (formerly Dendroica). In contrast, resident tropical species, which pair for life, show little if any sexual dimorphism, but exceptions occur. The Parkesia waterthrushes and ovenbird are strongly migratory, but have identical male and female plumage, whereas the mainly tropical and sedentary yellowthroats are dimorphic. The Granatellus chats also show sexual dimorphism, but due to recent genetic work, have been moved into the family Cardinalidae (New World buntings and cardinals).

The name warbler is a misnomer for the New World group of warblers established before the family was split from the Old World warbler in the 1830s. The Random House Dictionary defines "to warble" as "to sing with trills." Most New World warblers do not warble, but rather "lisp, buzz, hiss, chip, rollick, or zip." ^[6]

Related Research Articles

The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.

The hooded warbler is a New World warbler. It breeds in eastern North America across the eastern United States and into southernmost Canada (Ontario). It is migratory, wintering in Central America and the West Indies. Hooded warblers are very rare vagrants to western Europe.

The cerulean warbler is a small songbird in the family Parulidae. It is a long-distance migrant, breeding in eastern North American hardwood forests. In the non-breeding season, it winters on the eastern slope of the Andes in South America, preferring subtropical forests.

The yellow-breasted chat is a large songbird found in America, and is the only member of the family Icteriidae. It was once a member of the New World warbler family Parulidae, but in 2017, the American Ornithological Society moved it to its own family. Its placement is not definitively resolved.

Townsend's warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.

The nine-primaried oscines is a group of bird families in the suborder Passeri (oscines) of the Passeriformes. The composition of the group has changed since the term was introduced but is now considered to consist of seven major families—Fringillidae, Emberizidae, Cardinalidae, Thraupidae, Passerellidae, Parulidae and Icteridae—plus some small families. When Fringillidae is omitted the remaining six families are referred to as the "New World" nine-primaried oscines.

Wilsonia is a small genus of New World warblers which breed in North America. They are migratory, wintering south of their breeding ranges in Central America, the West Indies or South America.

Parula was formerly a small genus of New World warblers which breed in North and South America.

The elfin woods warbler is a species of bird endemic to Puerto Rico, where it is local and uncommon. Discovered in 1968 and described in 1972, it is the most recently described New World warbler.

Setophaga is a genus of birds of the New World warbler family Parulidae. It contains at least 34 species. The Setophaga warblers are an example of adaptive radiation with the various species using different feeding techniques and often feeding in different parts of the same tree.

Cardellina is a genus of passerine birds in the New World warbler family Parulidae. The genus name Cardellina is a diminutive of the Italian dialect word Cardella for the European goldfinch.

Adelaide's warbler, or reinita mariposera is a bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico belonging to the genus Setophaga of the family Parulidae.

Passerida is, under the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, one of two parvorders contained within the suborder Passeri. While more recent research suggests that its sister parvorder, Corvida, is not a monophyletic grouping, the Passerida as a distinct clade are widely accepted.

The wrenthrush or zeledonia, is a unique species of nine-primaried oscine, endemic to the Talamancan montane forests.

The yellow-headed warbler is one of two species of bird in the Cuban warbler family Teretistridae. It is endemic to western Cuba.

The Cuban warblers are a genus, Teretistris, and family, Teretistridae, of birds endemic to Cuba and its surrounding cays. Until 2002 they were thought to be New World warblers, but DNA studies have shown that they are not closely related to that family. The family consists of two species, the yellow-headed warbler and the Oriente warbler. Both species are found in forest and scrub, with the yellow-headed warbler ranging in the west of the island and the Oriente warbler in the east. The Cuban warblers are 13 cm (5.1 in) long and have similar yellow and grey plumage.

The white-winged warbler, also called the white-winged ground-warbler or Hispaniolan highland-tanager, is a Vulnerable species of bird of the family Phaenicophilidae, the Hispaniolan tanagers. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The waterthrushes are a genus of New World warbler, Parkesia.

Myiothlypis is a genus of New World warblers, best represented in Central and South America. This is one of only two warbler genera that are well represented in the latter continent. All of these species were formerly placed in the genus Basileuterus.

References

Further reading

• Curson, Quinn and Beadle, 1994. New World Warblers. 252 p.  ISBN   0-7136-3932-6
• Dunn, Jon L.; Garrett, Kimball L. (1997). A Field Guide to Warblers of North America . Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN   978-0-395-78321-4.
• Harrison, Hal H. 1984. Wood Warblers’ World. New York : Simon and Schuster, 335 p., 24 p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
• Lovette, I. J. and E. Bermingham. 2002. What is a wood-warbler? Molecular characterization of a monophyletic Parulidae. The Auk. 119(3): 695–714. PDF fulltext ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
• Morse, Douglass H. 1989. American Warblers : an Ecological and Behavioral Perspective. Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, xii, 406 p. : ill., maps.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parulidae .

Wikispecies has information related to Parulidae .

• New World warblers (Parulidae) information, including 81 species with videos and 100 with photographs at the Internet Bird Collection
• "Chasing Down Warblers" National Geographic News story on seeing 30 warbler species in May 2002
• Life histories of North American wood warblers, Part 1 (of 2) (1963) by A.C. Bent through Dover Publications, Inc. at New York.