Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

The Black-crested Warbler (*Myiothlypis nigrocristata*) is a striking member of the New World Warbler family, Parulidae, endemic to the Andes. Measuring approximately 12.5 cm (5 inches) in length and weighing 10.5-12.5 grams, it sports distinctive olive-yellow upperparts and bright yellow underparts. Its most defining field mark is the prominent, often erect, black crown or crest, sharply contrasted by a long, pristine white supercilium and a black loral stripe that extends past the eye. This...

Habitat

Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, cloud forests, and their borders. It prefers elevations typically ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters (4,900-9,800 ft).

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates including caterpillars, beetles, and spiders. It forages mainly by gleaning from leaves and branches.

Behavior

This diurnal warbler is an active and often restless forager, typically observed gleaning insects from the foliage and twigs in the understory and mid-story layers of the forest. It frequently participates in mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through vegetation alongside tanagers, oth...

Range

The Black-crested Warbler is a resident species found exclusively in the Andean mountain ranges of South America. Its distribution stretches from the central and eastern Andes of Colombia, southward through the Andes of Ecuador, and into northern and central Peru, reaching as far south as the dep...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- Its scientific name, *Myiothlypis nigrocristata*, directly translates to "flycatcher-thrush black-crested," highlighting its distinctive plumage. - Unlike many warblers, it's not a long-distance migrant, remaining year-round in its Andean strongholds. - It's a common member of mixed-species for...

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