Vermivora luciaeLucy's warbler

Geographic Range

Lucy's Warbler is found in the southwestern United States, mainly in Arizona and New Mexico. They are also found in the lower parts of Nevada and California. They migrate to Mexico in the winter.

(Gough 1997)

Habitat

Consists of scrub thickets that are usually near water. They are midstory to canopy nesters.

(Robbins 1966)

Physical Description

Lucy's Warbler is a small bird about 11 centimeters in length. The beak is very pointed, and thin. The back area is a pale grey color, and the underside is white. The males differ from the females by a small, rust colored patch on the crown.

(Gough 1997)

Reproduction

Little is known about the reproduction of Lucy's Warbler. It is thought that two eggs are laid at a time. Incubation time is unknown. Lucy's Warbler breeds near water. It is not known if one or both parents care for the young.

(Gough,G.A,1997)

  • Average time to hatching
    11 days
    AnAge

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

Little is known about the behavior of Lucy's Warbler.

Communication and Perception

Food Habits

Vermivora luciae feeds on insects. The very pointed bill helps it to probe for its food in small cracks and crevices.

(Gough 1997)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Lucy's Warbler does not appear to have any positive affects on humans or the environment.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Lucy's Warbler does not appear to negatively affect humans or the environment.

Conservation Status

There are no conservation efforts being made at this time regarding Lucy's warbler. The population, however, is declining due to loss of habitat.

(National Audubon Society, 2000)

Other Comments

Lucy's Warbler looks similar to Bell's Vireo, but has a heavier bill.

(Robbins, 1996)

Contributors

Jenny Genuise (author), Milford High School, George Campbell (editor), Milford High School.

Glossary

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

World Map

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

chaparral

Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

oviparous

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

tactile

uses touch to communicate

visual

uses sight to communicate

References

Gough, G. 1997. "Life History Groupings" (On-line). Accessed October 12, 2000 at http://hinesj.er.usgs.gov.

National Audobon Society, 2000. "Birdsource" (On-line). Accessed 11/24/00 at http//:birdsource.cornell.edu.

Robbins, C., B. Bruun, H. Zim. 1996. Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company.