Basileuterus trifasciatus
The Three-banded Warbler (Basileuterus trifasciatus) is a striking and active member of the New World warbler family, Parulidae, instantly recognizable by its distinctive head pattern. Measuring approximately 12.5-13 cm (5 inches) in length and weighing around 10-12 grams, this small passerine boasts an olive-green back, yellowish underparts, and dark wings with obscure pale edgings. Its most prominent field marks are the three dark and two pale stripes on its head: a black lateral crown stri...
This species primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical montane forests, favoring cloud forest and forest edges, typically at elevations between 1,200 and 2,400 meters.
Predominantly insectivorous, the Three-banded Warbler consumes a variety of small arthropods, primarily gleaning them from leaves, twigs, and moss-covered branches.
Three-banded Warblers are highly active, diurnal birds, constantly on the move as they glean insects from foliage and bark in the forest understory and mid-story. They are often observed participating in mixed-species foraging flocks, which likely enhances foraging efficiency and vigilance agains...
The Three-banded Warbler is an endemic resident of the humid Andean slopes of northwestern South America. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends from southern Colombia (Nariño department) through the western and central Andes of Ecuador, south into extreme northern Peru (departments of...
Least Concern
- The "three bands" refer to the prominent dark stripes on its head (lateral crown and postocular) that contrast with pale supercilia and a gray face. - It is a quintessential inhabitant of the biodiverse Andean cloud forests, an ecosystem rich in unique flora and fauna. - This warbler frequently...