Green-tailed Warbler
Microligea palustris
Secretive, found in montane thickets and scrub, typically in or near forests. Usually solitary and rarely found in mixed feeding flocks. Soft gray of body and head contrast sharply with olive-green back and wings. It is similar to White-winged Warbler, but is gray rather than white below, has red eyes, and lacks white on the tail and wings. Song is a series of loud, sharp “tsip” notes. Calls include loud squeaky notes and raspy scolds.
Identification
The green-tailed warbler is 12 to 14.5 cm (4.7 to 5.7 in) and weighs 9.5 to 15.2 g (0.34 to 0.54 oz). The sexes are not particularly dimorphic. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a gray head and nape, pale to dark gray lores, and white arcs above and below the eye. The eye itself is ruby red. Their upperparts are olive-green, and their underparts pale grayish that is whiter on the belly. The subspecies M. p. vasta is overall paler than the nominate and has more white on the underparts.
Taxonomy
The green-tailed warbler is the only member of genus Microligea, though the white-winged warbler (Xenoligea montana) was originally also placed there. The two species were originally placed in the New World wood warbler family Parulidae, but taxonomists were unsure if they belonged there. DNA evidence published in the early 2010s showed they were not related to other wood warblers, and in 2017, they were moved to the newly created family Phaenicophilidae. The two species in the genus Phaenicophilus were also moved there from the "true" tanager family Thraupidae.<p>The green-tailed warbler has two subspecies: the nominate M. p. palustris, and M. p. vasta. A poorly-defined population in northwestern Haiti may prove to be a third subspecies.
- Scientific name
- Microligea palustris
- Authority
- (Cory, 1884)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phaenicophilidae
- Genus
- Microligea
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of the green-tailed warbler is found in the highlands of central Hispaniola that span the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, though it is found almost entirely in the latter country. There it inhabits broadleaf and pine montane forest with a dense understory at elevations up to about 2,900 m (9,500 ft). The subspecies M. p. vasta is a disjunct population found in the southwestern Dominican Republic lowlands and Beata Island. There, it inhabits semi-arid scrublands near sea level. There is some discussion that the mainland population belongs either to the nominate or a third subspecies, and that M. p. vasta is limited to Beata.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The green-tailed warbler is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The green-tailed warbler forages in vegetation, usually in the undergrowth and thickets. Its diet is mostly arthropods, especially insects. It forages alone, in pairs, and in mixed-species foraging flocks.<p>The green-tailed warbler's breeding season is mainly from May to June in the highlands and begins a bit earlier in the lowlands, though the species is suspected to breed at any time of year. It makes a cup nest of plant material. In the lowlands it is usually placed 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) above ground, sometimes in cacti, and in the highlands can be placed as high as 10 m (30 ft). The clutch size is two to four eggs. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.<p>The green-tailed warbler makes "[s]hort rasping and squeaking notes" that may accelerate into what is thought to be its song. The song has also been described as "sip sip sip".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Winter Wren
Troglodytes hiemalis
Tiny, short-tailed, plain-brown wren with a huge voice. Subtly patterned, with indistinct pale eyebrow and diffuse dark barring on flanks and wings. Constantly keeps tail cocked at an angle. Found in a variety of forested habitats, but always prefers wetter areas with thick tangles, often around treefalls and moss. Darker, smaller, and shorter-tailed than House Wren. Incredibly beautiful song is a long series of musical whistles and trills; an unmistakable and common sound in northern forests. Call is a dry, low "chimp" remarkably similar to Song Sparrow.
Markham's Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates markhami
Small dark seabird of Humboldt Current, although relatively large for a storm-petrel; not seen from shore, but breeds inland in Atacama Desert where it visits colonies at night to avoid predators. Favors warmer waters beyond cooler inshore zone. Plumage all dark except for bold pale bands on upperwing; also note deeply forked tail. Told from similar size Black Storm-Petrel (which favors cooler inshore waters) by bolder pale wing bands, shallower wingbeats, and smaller feet (big feet of Black Storm-Petrel often hang down).
Bristled Grassbird
Schoenicola striatus
Large brown warbler with a streaked back and a long broad tail. Chunkier and shorter-tailed than much larger Striated Grassbird. Clambers around the dense tall grasses of lowland grasslands; favors areas with scattered shrubbery. Reclusive and will generally not flush twice in succession. Song a springy “wee-chew, chewa-wee!”, given from top of vegetation or in flight.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.