Yellow-headed warbler

The yellow-headed warbler (Teretistris fernandinae) is one of two species of bird in the Cuban warbler family Teretistridae. It is endemic to western Cuba.[2]

Yellow-headed warbler
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Teretistridae
Genus: Teretistris
Species:
T. fernandinae
Binomial name
Teretistris fernandinae
(Lembeye, 1850)
Teretistris fernandinae range

Taxonomy and systematics

The yellow-headed warbler shares its family and genus with the Oriente warbler (T. fornsi). They were originally placed in the New World warblers (Parulidae) but phylogenetic studies of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA led to reassessment of several genera and in 2017 the Cuban warblers were moved to their own family. Their closest relatives are the four members of family Spindalidae, the yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), and the New World blackbirds of family Icteridae.[3][2]

The yellow-headed warbler is monotypic.[2]

Description

The yellow-headed warbler is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 6 to 18.5 g (0.21 to 0.65 oz). Its entire head is yellow, with an olive tinge on the crown and nape. Its upperparts are gray and its underparts a lighter grayish white.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The yellow-headed warbler is found in far western mainland Cuba, Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Pines), and the nearby Cayo Cantiles. It inhabits all available forest types as long as they have a relatively undisturbed understory, and also scrubby thickets in drier areas. In elevation it ranges from lowlands to high mountains.[4]

Behavior

Movement

The yellow-headed warbler is a year-round resident throughout its range.[4]

Feeding

The yellow-headed warbler forages from the ground to the forest mid-level, gleaning rocks and foliage for insects and other invertebrates. It is also believed to take small lizards. It often forages in flocks.[4]

Breeding

The yellow-headed warbler's breeding season is from March to July, with eggs laid in April and May. It makes a cup nest of grass, rootlets, and other plant fibers and usually places it fairly low in a bush, vine, or sapling. The clutch size is two or three eggs. The incubation period and time to fledging are not known.[4]

Vocalization

The yellow-headed warbler's song is "a series of buzzy grating notes interspersed with sweeter, more musical notes". Its calls include "a rapid, high-pitched, staccato chattering" and "various other buzzy and grating notes".[4]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the yellow-headed warbler as being of Least Concern. It has a small range and its population size is unknown but believed to be stable. No immeditate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered common to very common within its range.[4]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Yellow-headed Warbler Teretistris fernandinae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22721867A94736156. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22721867A94736156.en. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "Caribbean "tanagers", Wrenthrush, Yellow-breasted Chat". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.aou.org/taxa
  4. Curson, J. (2020). Yellow-headed Warbler (Teretistris fernandinae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.yehwar1.01 retrieved October 11, 2022
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