Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia)

Group Warblers
Code ABPBX11030
Order Passeriformes
Family Parulidae
Author (Wilson, 1810)
Rank G5 (definitions)
Occurrence LM (definitions)
Scale S (definitions)

County List:

Western UP all
Eastern UP all
Northern LP Arenac, Antrim, Alpena, Alcona, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Mecosta, Leelanau, Wexford, Roscommon, Manistee, Presque Isle, Oceana, Otsego, Oscoda, Osceola, Ogemaw, Crawford, Clare, Emmet, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Benzie, Bay, Mason, Lake, Isabella, Iosco, Gladwin, Grand Traverse
Southern LP Allegan, Montcalm, Muskegon, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Livingston, Wayne, Van Buren, Tuscola, Sanilac, St. Clair, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Cass, Eaton, Clinton, Branch, Berrien, Barry, Lapeer, Calhoun, Genesee, Kent, Ionia, Gratiot, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Any Forested Uplands (Regen or Sap))
      or (Any Forested Lowlands (Regen or Sap))
      or Upland Brush
      or Lowland Brush
   containing:
      Perches
view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats Regen Sap Pole Sm Saw Lg Saw Uneven
Aspen YESYESnonono-
Paper Birch YESYESnonono-
Oak YESYESnononono
Assorted Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Northern Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Spruce/Fir YESYESnononono
Hemlock YESYESnononono
Jack Pine YESYESnononono
Red Pine YESYESnononono
White Pine YESYESnononono
Conifer Plantations YESYESnonono-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Mixed Northern Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Mixed Upland Conifer YESYESnononono
Mixed Pine YESYESnononono
Swamp Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch YESYESnononono
Bottomland Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Tamarack YESYESnononono
Northern White Cedar YESYESnononono
Black Spruce YESYESnononono
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods YESYESnononono
Mixed Lowland Conifer YESYESnononono
Non-ForestedUpland Brush, Lowland Brush
Special FeaturesPerches

view size class definitions

Literature:

McPeek, G. A. 1991. Mourning Warbler. Pages 442-443 In: R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. (eds.) The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. 594 pp.

Habitat: The Mourning Warbler breeds in a wide array of plant communities, from coniferous to deciduous, provided there is a partially open canopy and both herb and shrub cover. It occupies forest-edge habitats, and is also found in aspen-birch stands. In the Atlas Habitat Survey, nine habitat types were represented in 61 observations. Reports indicate a preference for wet and mesic habitats (72%); and among forest types, 62% were classified as young or second-growth vegetation.

Mourning Warblers nest on or near the ground in dense tangles of raspberry or blackberry vines, and in extensive growths of jewelweed.


DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Breeding: Dense underbrush on the margin of a lowland swamp or bog; bushy hillsides, forest clearings grown up to brambles, shrubs, and saplings.

Special Habitat Requirements: Extensive stands of dense saplings, shrubs.


Kaufman, K. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 675 pp.

Habitat: Clearings, thickets, slashings, undergrowth. Breeds in brushy northern habitats, including dense shrubbery in old deciduous woods clearings, brush cut-over lands, lowland raspberry and blackberry thickets, or bog and marsh edges; often in temporary habitats, growing up after fires or clearcuts.

Diet: Probably mostly insects. Details of the diet are poorly known, but has been seen foraging for caterpillars, beetles, and other insects; also eats spiders.

Nest: Usually placed on ground next to shrub, at base of weeds, in raspberry or blackberry briers, or among fern, goldenrod, or grass tussocks. Also sometimes in bush within a couple of feet of the ground. Nest is an open bulky cup made of leaves, with a core of weeds and coarse grasses, lined with fine grass and hair.

Conservation Status: Because it inhabits shrubby second growth in both summer and winter, less vulnerable than some warblers to loss of habitat.