The Colima Warbler, Oreothlypis crissalis, is a New World warbler

New World warbler

The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are not related to the Old World warblers or the Australian warblers....

. It is mainly found in the Sierra Madre Occidental

Sierra Madre Occidental

The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...

 of central Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, though its range just barely extends into adjacent southwestern Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 in the Chisos Mountains

Chisos Mountains

The Chisos Mountains are a mountain range located in the Big Bend area of West Texas, USA. The mountain range is contained entirely within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park. This is the only mountain range in the United States to be fully contained within the boundary of a National Park...

 of Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...

.

The Colima warbler is about 4.5 to 5 in (11.4 to 12.7 cm) long. They are mainly dark gray and brownish in coloration, with a pale under-side. Their rump and the feathers below their tail are yellow. They have a white ring around their eye, and a tinge of pale color on their breasts. Males have a spot of orange on the top of their heads.

In appearance the Colima Warbler is very similar to the Virginia's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler is a species of New World warbler.Despite what its name may suggest, Virginia's warbler is not actually named after the American State of Virginia, which makes sense as the birds range only reaches as far east as the state of Texas...

, but is larger in size, more robust, and heavier billed. The Virginia's Warbler has much more yellow or pale color on their breasts, which is more gray in the Colima Warbler. The yellow above and below the tail is also more orange-yellow in the Colima's Warbler, and more greenish-yellow in Virginia's Warblers.

Life history

Nesting is done on the ground. Forming a loose cup-shaped nest of grass, leaves, and moss the Colima Warbler hides its nest among the mountain rocks. It usually lays four eggs, which are white to cream-colored and speckled with brown.

Books

• Beason, R. C., and R. H. Wauer. 1998. Colima Warbler (Vermivora crissalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 383 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Articles

• Brush, A. H. and N. K. Johnson (1976) The evolution of color differences between Nashville and Virginia’s Warblers. Condor. vol. 78 pp. 412–414.

• Lanning DV, Marshall JT & Shiflett JT. (1990). Range and Habitat of the Colima Warbler. Wilson Bulletin. vol 102, no 1. pp. 1–13.

• Wauer, R. H. (1994) A closer look: Colima Warbler. Birding. vol. 26 pp. 250–253.

• Wauer, R. H. (1979) Colima Warbler status at Big Bend National Park, Texas. Proc. First Conf. Sci. Res. Natl. Parks. N.P.S. Trans. Proc. Ser. 5: 474496.

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