Species BirdsKirtland's Warbler

Kirtland's Warbler

Setophaga kirtlandii

RareBird
Illustration of Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii)

Kirtland's Warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America, nesting almost exclusively in young jack pine forests in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Its recovery from fewer than 200 singing males in the 1970s to over 2,000 today is considered a conservation success story. It bobs its tail repeatedly and nests on the ground beneath jack pine branches.

Habitat
Young jack pine forests with sandy soils
Diet
Insects, blueberries, and jack pine seeds
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Kirtland's Warbler

The best time to see a Kirtland's Warbler is May–June, when about 78% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 918 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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