Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Golden-winged Warblers are undergoing a serious decline as their close relative, the Blue-winged Warbler, expands its range northward.  Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers sometimes interbreed, creating a wide variety of intermediate offspring.  Golden-winged warblers have a quite narrow breeding range which includes the Great Lakes region and much of the Appalachians.

Habitat: Generally deciduous forest during migration through the state.  Breeds in shrubby areas with scattered trees.

Diet: Primarily insects.

Behavior: Moves through foliage and gleans insects from leaves and twigs.  Primarily forages high in the treetops during the summer months, but can be found lower in the canopy during migration and in winter.

Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota

Song: Golden-winged Warbler Song

Migration: Summers in a relatively narrow area around the Great Lakes and through the Appalachians.  Winters in Central and South America.

Similar Species: Quite distinctive, although hybrid Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warblers can be very confusing.

Conservation Status: In serious declines throughout much of it's range.  Golden-winged Warblers are losing ground to competition with Blue-winged Warblers, cowbird parasitism, and habitat loss.

Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Golden-winged Warbler

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Golden-winged Warbler"

3) E-nature.com: Golden-winged Warbler

Photo Information: May 20th, 2002 -- EROS Data Center, Minnehaha County -- Terry L. Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Golden-winged Warbler photos.