A captivating warbler species that thrives in mountainous terrains and canyons adorned with a blend of pine and oak trees.
Meet the Red-faced Warbler:
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-4-2017) near emory pass, mimbres mts, grant co, nm -11” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Description of the Bird: The Red Warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons) flaunts bright rose-red plumage contrasted by a pale auricular patch, varying in color based on the subspecies. Dark flight-feathers and rectrices feature rose-red edges.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-4-2017) near emory pass, mimbres mts, grant co, nm -17” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Males and females share similar appearances, albeit females possess slightly muted plumage.
Juveniles sport predominantly pinkish/cinnamon-brown plumage, darker wings and tail with pale edges, and a whitish to greyish auricular patch.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-11-13) temporal gulch, santa rita mts, scc, az -05” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Location: The Red Warbler, native to Mexico, boasts three subspecies across its wide range. With its uniform rose-red plumage (except on lores and ear-coverts), this stunning warbler exhibits no sexual dimorphism between males and females. It shares a close relation with the Pink-headed Warbler – Cardellina versicolor of S Mexico and Guatemala.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-11-13) temporal gulch, santa rita mts, scc, az -03” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Subspecies and Range: Disjunct populations harbor three subspecies, differing mainly in ear patch color and plumage brightness.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-11-13) temporal gulch, santa rita mts, scc, az -04” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Habitat and Behavior: Found mainly in highlands, this warbler breeds in humid pine forests above 2,800 meters and descends to 2,000/2,400 meters in winter. Active foragers, they constantly seek insects in both low and mid-storey regions. Nests, built by females on the ground and concealed by vegetation, reflect their monogamous nature.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-4-2017) near emory pass, mimbres mts, grant co, nm -04 – Copy” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Reproduction: Breeding in humid and semi-humid pine-oak, pine, and fir forests with a rich understorey, these birds inhabit elevations from 2,000 to 3,500 meters. Nesting at high elevations, the female lays 3-4 whitish eggs speckled with brown, grey, and reddish hues. Incubation takes place for 15-16 days, and young birds fledge after 10-11 days, reaching full size in three weeks.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-4-2017) near emory pass, mimbres mts, grant co, nm -07” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Status and Threats: The Red Warbler faces threats from nest predators like rodents, raccoons, feral cats, and snakes. Though the population is in decline due to habitat destruction, the species is currently assessed as Least Concern, with a population estimated between 50,000 and 499,999 mature individuals.
“849 – RED-FACED WARBLER (5-4-2017) near emory pass, mimbres mts, grant co, nm -02 – Copy” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.
Spot the Red-faced warbler:
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