Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Passage migrant — spring and fallRare

The take

A warbler doing a nuthatch impression — creeping the trunks during migration weeks.

How to ID it

  • Boldly striped black and white overall, including a striped crown; males show a black cheek patch.
  • Creeps up, down, and around trunks and branches like a nuthatch, probing bark for insects.
  • Thin, slightly downcurved bill; undertail coverts have distinctive large black spots.

Field marks at a glance

Size
small
Head
black-and-white striped
Call
high squeaky wee-see wee-see

Where & when

Passage migrant — spring and fall

Learn more

Sources