Skip to main content

Photo: Michael Woodruff from Spokane, Washington, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

Black-crested Warbler (Myiothlypis nigrocristata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

See what's near you right now

The Black-crested Warbler (Myiothlypis nigrocristata) is a member of the Parulidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 13.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Parulidae New World Warblers
  4. Genus Myiothlypis
  5. Species nigrocristata

Where it lives

Venezuela to Peru

Quick facts

Weight
13.6 g
Family
Parulidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black-crested Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Black-crested Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Black-crested Warbler (Myiothlypis nigrocristata) is a member of the Parulidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to Peru.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 193,000 km².

Songs & calls

Black-crested Warbler — Song

Recorded by Brian Cox Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black-crested Warbler?

The Black-crested Warbler is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.

Where does the Black-crested Warbler live?

The Black-crested Warbler is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Black-crested Warbler belong to?

The Black-crested Warbler (Myiothlypis nigrocristata) belongs to the Parulidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Black-crested Warbler eat?

The Black-crested Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Black-crested Warbler migrate?

The Black-crested Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Black-crested Warbler endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Black-crested Warbler make?

1 real field recording of the Black-crested Warbler — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black-crested Warbler's range?

The Black-crested Warbler has a mapped global range of about 193,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Parulidae

More in Songbirds

Guides for this bird

Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds

How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.

4 min read

Back to top