Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing: 
      Stand/Gap Openings

2nd alternative:
      (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   adjacent to:
      Riparian

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Over most of its range the Cerulean Warbler is prevalent in mature bottomland and swamp forest. The canopy can be closed to partly open and the amount of underbrush also varies. This species also occurs in mature mesic and xeric tracts with a partly open canopy. In upland sites, populations are typically less dense. Nests are high in the canopy on horizontal branches.

The Cerulean Warbler is thought to be area sensitive, requiring extensive tracts of mature deciduous forest. Atlas Habitat Survey data include 21 observations of Ceruleans, all in mature forest and all but one in deciduous tracts; the exception was in mixed mesic forest. Of the rest, 13 were in wet forest, 6 in mesic forest, and 1 in dry forest. In southwestern Michigan, the species is regular in mature bottomlands dominated by silver maple, ash, sycamore, and formerly, American elm. Birds are also found in upland beech-maple, oak, black walnut, and older plots of black locust.

Ceruleans are absent wherever agriculture predominates, areas are urbanized, or remnant woodlots are small. The mature floodplain forests and extensive forest tracts in southwestern Michigan provide habitat for the largest remaining concentrations.

Habitat: Breeding: Swamps and bottomlands. Favors open stands of tall trees along riverbanks or dense deciduous forests with little undergrowth. Generally occupies upper canopy.

Special Habitat Requirements: Tall deciduous trees.

Habitat: Deciduous forests, especially in river valleys. Breeds in mature hardwoods either in uplands or along streams. Prefers elm, soft maple, oak, birch, hickory, beech, basswood, linden, sycamore, or black ash. Nests only in tall forest with clear understory.

Diet: Insects. Diet not well known; undoubtedly feeds mostly or entirely on insects, like most warblers. Has been observed feeding on caterpillars.

Nest: Placed on horizontal branch of hardwood, far from trunk and usually high, 15-90 feet up. Favors oak, maple, basswood, elm, hickory, sycamore, beech or tulip trees. Nest is a small shallow open cup made of bark strips, grasses, weeds, spider silk, and lichen; lined with moss and hair.

Conservation Status: Surveys show steadily declining numbers in recent years. Nesting efforts may fail because of increasing cowbird parasitism in smaller patches of forest. May also be losing winter habitat in tropics.