Lucy's Warbler - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Lisa W
Location: Hereford, Arizona, USA

Vermivora luciae

Identification

4.25 inches. The smallest wood warbler. Pale gray upperparts, rust-brown crown and rump, and white underparts. Eye ring is white. Wings are plain gray. Female is smaller and lacks brown cap.

Distribution

Southwestern United States from southeastern California, southern Nevada and Utah; most of Arizona; and southwestern New Mexico and Texas; and northwestern Mexico. Vagrant to coastal California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana. Winters in western Mexico.

Taxonomy

Photo by: Gary Clark
Location: Mesquite Springs, Death Valley, California, USA

This is a monotypic species¹.

AOU have moved this species to genus Oreothlypis; the opus is awaiting the position of the world-wide checklists before following along.

Habitat

Shrubby and canyon areas in deserts and foothills

Behaviour

Nests in woodpecker holes, abandoned Verdin nests, and sometimes in other types of holes. Occasional cowbird host. Diet includes caterpillars, beetles, and leafhoppers.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds

External Links

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