Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) lives in boreal coniferous forest across Northern North America. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
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In autumn the blackpoll warbler crosses the Atlantic without stopping, covering about 2,500 km (1,600 mi). It departs from the northeastern United States and flies south to the Greater Antilles and the northeastern coasts of South America, using a single nonstop leg that rivals the longest over-water journeys recorded for migratory songbirds. The species is a common migrant throughout much of North America, so many individuals make this remarkable passage each year.
A single Atlantic crossing stretches roughly 3,000 km (1,900 mi) and can last 72 to 88 continuous hours. During this marathon the bird maintains a flight speed of about 27 mph (43 km/h) and burns roughly 0.08 g of fat each hour, allowing it to sustain the long haul without landing.
Before the ocean trek the blackpoll almost doubles its weight at staging sites, reaching more than 20 g, then rides a favourable wind shift that pushes it toward its destination. By the time it reaches South America it has shed four grams or more, the extra fuel having powered the prolonged nonstop flight. This rapid mass gain and strategic use of winds are essential for the bird to complete its trans-Atlantic migration.
The blackpoll warbler breeds nearer to the tundra than any other warbler, favouring the edge of boreal forests where spruce trees dominate. Its breeding range stretches across northern North America, from Alaska through most of Canada to the Adirondacks and New England, often on higher-elevation woodlands and coastal islands.
No other New World warbler travels as far as the blackpoll, which undertakes the longest migration of any species in the group. In autumn it departs the northeastern United States and flies nonstop over the Atlantic, averaging about 2,500 km and sometimes reaching 3,000 km, a distance matched by few songbirds. The journey can last 72 to 88 hours at roughly 43 km/h, requiring the bird to burn about 0.08 g of fat each hour to sustain the marathon flight.
Sources
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In the lush canopies of the North American forests, the blackpoll warbler flits with an air of quiet determination, its grey and white feathers glistening like the first whispers of dawn as it embarks on one of the most remarkable journeys in the avian world. With a fierce resilience, this tiny songster navigates the treacherous expanse of the Atlantic, crossing thousands of miles of open ocean to reach its wintering grounds, a testament to the unyielding spirit of a creature that weighs barely a fraction of an ounce. As it moves through the world, the blackpoll warbler leaves in its wake a trail of melodic trills, a haunting reminder of the beauty and fragility of a life lived on the edge of survival.
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