Whistling warbler

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Whistling warbler
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Catharopeza
P.L. Sclater
, 1880
Species:
C. bishopi
Binomial name
Catharopeza bishopi
(Lawrence, 1878)
Synonyms
  • Leucopeza bishopi
    Andrle and Andrle, 1976

The whistling warbler (Catharopeza bishopi) is a species of

habitat loss.[1] This habitat loss is due to volcanic activity and deforestation.[4][5] Whistling warblers have cup-shaped nests, and spotted eggs. Their diet primarily consists of insects.[6]

Taxonomy

The whistling warbler was originally given the genus,

Leucopeza bishopi, but it was later changed to Catharopeza bishopi because of its stoutness in many areas of its body.[4]

There are competing beliefs on who the closest relative to the whistling warbler (Catharopeza) is between

Dendroica plumbea species.[9]

Description

The whistling warbler is often compared to a

manubrium-sternum bridge.[3][11] Females have the same plumage.[3]

The whistling warbler's length ranges from 5 ½ inches to 5 ¾ inches. Their wings are around 2 ¾" long, the tail is about 2 ½ in", the tarsus is ~7/8 inches, and their wingspan is approximately 8 ½ inches in length.[12][6]

The immature whistling warbler has black feathers emerging on the crown and has the same appearance of the tail's feather tips as the adult, with the overall tail feather color being black. There is a dark greenish brown color on the top, and lighter color on the bottom. In place of the white marks in an adult, a light reddish-brown is present. The quills are brown.[3]

The whistling warbler's song has a rapid rhythm, with an increasing intensity that is comparable to the

olive-backed thrush song.[13] In Andrle and Andrle's study in 1986, they found that the average of the most common songs were about 4 to 6 second. They also found that the Whistling Warbler's songs could be heard from morning to late afternoon, unless it was heavily raining.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Whistling warblers inhabit the hills and mountains of St. Vincent island, including Richmond Peak, and Grand Bonhomme. St. Vincent is 18 miles in length and is located 13 degrees 10’ north latitude, and 60 degrees 57’ west longitude.[13] There are also active and inactive volcanoes present on the island. There is no dry season on the hilltops and they are considered rainforests due to their 3800 mm of rain annually. These rainforests range from 300 m to 500 m in elevation.[4]

Whistling warbler distribution has changed over time. Before a volcanic eruption in 1902, whistling warblers were usually found around 300 m above sea level, but they are now found in areas 300 m to 600 m above sea level, with more of them found at lower elevations. This higher density of whistling warblers at lower altitudes is due to there being more

gorges, and valleys in those areas and more wet slopes at higher altitudes.[4]

Behavior and ecology

Breeding

The whistling warbler's cup-shaped nests are found at low heights and spotted eggs have been seen in them. Nesting has been found to occur in July in one observation, and April in another.[4][6] Chicks with developed wings from only a few days to a week old were seen out of the nest.[4]

Diet and foraging

Whistling warblers forage at low heights usually from the ground to 4 m, and at most 15 m.[4] They can be found foraging on large rocks along streams, boulders, and decayed logs.[4][6] They feed on insects, herbaceous plants, and occasionally lizards.[3][4][6] While foraging they hop from branch to branch with a “cocked tail”. The whistling warbler often flicks this "cocked tail" swiftly when observed foraging.[4]

Status

The whistling warbler is listed as

Le Soufriére and currently occupy an area of about 90 km2.[4]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22721755A180058781.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ISBN 0-7136-3932-6
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lawrence, George (1978). "Descriptions of seven new species of birds from the island of St. Vincent, West Indies". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1: 146–152 – via Archive.
  4. ^
    S2CID 54580927
    .
  5. ^ a b "Whistling Warbler Catharopeza bishopi". BirdLife. May 12, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Lister, C. E. (1880). "Field-notes on the birds of St. Vincent. West Indies". Ibis. 4: 38–44.
  7. ^
    JSTOR 40157555
    .
  8. PMID 20696258
    .
  9. PMC 1690178
    .
  10. ^ West Indian Bulletin. Commissioner of agriculture for the West Indies. 1905.
  11. ^ Webster, Dan J. (1992). "The Manubrium-Sternum Bridge in Songbirds (Oscines)". Indiana Academy of Science. 101: 299–308.
  12. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.27.185
    .
  13. ^
    JSTOR 4064004
    .
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