Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Regen or Sap))
      or (Hemlock (Regen or Sap))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Regen or Sap))

2nd alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Stand/Gap Openings

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The Magnolia Warbler is associated with a variety of breeding habitats, ranging from regenerating forest stands to undisturbed, mature conifer areas, and especially "edges" where young conifers adjoin more mature stands. The common element present in breeding habitat is dense clumps of regenerating conifers. Conifers may reproduce themselves in mature and old conifer stands as a result of trees dying of old age, windfall, injury, spruce budworm damage or disease. Dense young conifers may also occur along the transition edge where lowland conifers adjoin uplands, and in timber-harvest areas in which conifer tree species are not out-competed by hardwood species. Hall, in a long-term study of second-growth spruce forest in West Virginia, reported a gradual decline in Magnolia Warbler densities (from 19 to 2 males per 15 acres) from the late 1940s when the stand was approximately 20 years old to the early 1980s when the stand was 60+ years old.

Magnolia Warbler nests, which always contain some black rootlets, are generally found in conifers usually within 5 m of the ground. Although nests have been reported in most species in northern conifers, the short-needled mesic species such as eastern hemlock, balsam fir, and white spruce seem to provide optimal nesting habitat. Walkinshaw reported finding a nest of this species 5 feet off the ground in a dense black spruce thicket.

In Michigan, conifer management has mostly consisted of red and jack pine plantations. Such plantations probably do not provide suitable breeding habitat for the Magnolia Warbler, due largely to unfavorable tree species composition and insufficient stocking. Generally speaking, intensified management of Michigan's forests for pulpwood production, and encouragement of deciduous rather than coniferous tree species (except in plantations) does not bode well for the Magnolia Warbler's future in northern Michigan.

Habitat: Breeding: Usually in small clumps of spruces or hemlocks, or in small coniferous saplings in old fields. Associated with woodland edges and clearings.

Special Habitat Requirements: Stands of young conifers.

It favors second-growth habitats both summer and winter, so it has not been hurt by habitat destruction as much as some migrants.

Habitat: Low conifers; in migration, other trees. Breeds most commonly in areas of short young spruce; also in young hemlocks and pines and in dense understory of taller coniferous forest. During migration may be in any kind of deciduous shrubs or low trees.

Diet: Mostly insects. In breeding season, eats a variety of insects, including beetles, moth caterpillars, leafhoppers, and aphids; also spiders. May eat many spruce budworms when that insect is at epidemic numbers. Occasionally eats berries during inclement weather when insects may be scarce.

Nest: Site is well hidden in dense low conifer (especially spruce or hemlock), often near trunk on horizontal branch. Usually less than 10 feet above ground, sometimes up to 30 feet. Nest is flimsy cup of grasses, weeds, twigs, with lining of fine black rootlets.