Black-and-white Warbler: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Little Birds of the Americas · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. It creeps up and down tree trunks like a nuthatch. No other wood-warbler in North America searches for food on bark.
2. Its short legs and long back toe are built for this bark-climbing way of feeding.
3. The summer male is so boldly striped in black and white that it has been called a flying humbug, like the striped sweet.
4. Its high song is a 'wee-see' said over and over, at least six times in a row.
5. Though it feeds on tree trunks, it nests on the ground, tucking a cup of grass and leaves among roots and lining it with moss.

The quiz

1. Where does the black-and-white warbler hunt for food?

• In the water
• On tree trunks and branches (correct)
• Only in flowers
• In the sand

Like a nuthatch, it moves up and down trunks and along branches.

2. Which body feature helps it cling to bark?

• A stiff, spiky tail
• Webbed feet
• A long hind toe (correct)
• Hooked wings

Short legs and a long hind toe suit its way of feeding.

3. What has the striped male been described as?

• A flying humbug (correct)
• A tiny zebra
• A piano key
• A chessboard

Its bold black-and-white streaks earned it the name flying humbug.

4. How many times in a row is its 'wee-see' repeated, at least?

• Once
• Twice
• Three times
• Six times (correct)

Its wee-see comes at least six times, one after another.

5. Where does the black-and-white warbler usually build its nest?

• High in a treetop
• On the ground among roots (correct)
• Inside a woodpecker hole
• Under a bridge

It nests on the ground, often among roots or against a tree.

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