Yellow-throated warblers are small songbirds that breed in the southeastern United States and winter in the Bahamas, Cuba, and southern Florida. They get their name from the bright yellow throat and breast of the adult males. Yellow-throated warblers do live in Florida, but their range is limited to a small portion of the state.
Quick Answer
Yes, yellow-throated warblers can be found in Florida, but only in a limited area in the southern part of the state during the winter months when they migrate from their breeding grounds further north.
Overview of Yellow-Throated Warblers
The yellow-throated warbler (Setophaga dominica) is a small songbird that measures 4.5-5 inches in length and weighs about 0.3 ounces. They have olive backs, black masks and white undersides. The adult males have bright yellow throats and breasts, giving them their common name. The females are similar but have duller olive backs and paler throats.
Yellow-throated warblers breed in the southeastern United States in areas with mature pine or cypress trees and dense undergrowth. Their breeding range extends from southern Missouri and Maryland south to the Gulf Coast and into eastern Texas. They nest in cavities or tree branches, laying 3-5 eggs.
In the winter months of November to March, yellow-throated warblers migrate to the Bahamas, Cuba and southern Florida. They inhabit wooded areas, mangroves, and swamps during the winter period. Their diet consists mainly of insects and spiders, but they will also eat fruit and nectar.
Identification
Yellow-throated warblers can be identified by their distinctive plumage:
- Adult males have bright yellow throats and breasts
- They have gray backs with black masks and white undersides
- Females are duller in color with pale yellow throats
- Their song is a loud, ringing “witchity-witchity-witchity”
- They forage actively high in tree branches
Habitat
Yellow-throated warblers breed in mature pine and cypress forests in the southeastern US. In winter, they inhabit:
- Mangrove swamps
- Wooded wetlands
- Pine and hardwood forests
- Parks and wooded suburban areas
Behavior
Yellow-throated warblers are active, energetic birds that like to forage high up in branches. They mainly eat insects and spiders. Other behaviors include:
- Nest in tree cavities or branches
- Migrate at night to wintering grounds
- Aggressively defend their territories
- Males sing a loud, ringing warble
Range in Florida
In Florida, yellow-throated warblers are restricted to a small portion of southern Florida during winter. Their range includes:
- The Florida Keys
- Miami area and southeast coast
- The Everglades region
- They are rare and local further north along the coasts
They are considered a locally common winter resident only in extreme southern Florida. Further north, they occur in very low densities in isolated wooded areas during winter.
Region | Abundance |
---|---|
Florida Keys | Common winter resident |
Miami area | Uncommon winter resident |
Everglades | Locally common in winter |
Central & North FL | Rare winter visitor |
Suitable Habitat in Florida
During winter in Florida, yellow-throated warblers occupy habitats that provide good cover and insect food sources:
- Mangrove forests
- Tropical hardwood hammocks
- Swamps and flooded forests
- Pine rockland forests
- Parks and woods in urban areas
They are often found high up foraging in the branches of tall trees within these habitats.
Population Trends
Yellow-throated warbler populations are generally stable across their range according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a breeding population of 5.5 million and ranks this species as a Species of Least Concern.
In Florida, where they winter, yellow-throated warblers declined in the southern part of the state for unknown reasons in the 1980s. But their numbers rebounded in the 1990s and appear to be stable in more recent years.
Threats
Potential threats to yellow-throated warblers include:
- Habitat loss from development, logging, etc.
- Brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds
- Climate change affecting migration and breeding
- Collisions with buildings and towers during migration
Maintaining healthy mature forests across their breeding and wintering range is important for the continued stability of their populations.
Conclusion
In summary, yellow-throated warblers do live in Florida during the winter months after migrating from their breeding grounds further north. However, they are restricted to southern Florida in a limited range that includes the Keys, Miami area, and Everglades region where suitable tropical and subtropical habitat exists. They are rare and very local north of these areas. Protecting coastal forests in southern Florida will help provide winter habitat for migrating yellow-throated warblers.