Birds
Blackpoll Warbler
Setophaga striata · also called blackpoll warblers
A tiny songbird barely heavier than a few coins launches out over the open Atlantic and does not land again for up to three days, sustained entirely by fat reserves that nearly doubled its body weight before takeoff, one of the most extreme migratory feats any songbird attempts.
Overview
The blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata, is a subtly patterned songbird native to boreal and sub-arctic forest habitat across northern Canada and Alaska. Its extraordinary multi-day nonstop transoceanic migration, dramatic pre-flight fat storage, and status as one of the most northerly breeding warblers make it one of the most physiologically remarkable songbirds in North America.
A flight few other songbirds could survive
By nearly doubling its own body weight in fat before departure, the blackpoll warbler prepares for a journey over open ocean that would strand almost any other small bird without a single opportunity to rest along the way.
Status
Near Threatened, with populations declining due to boreal forest habitat loss and pressures along its extraordinarily long migratory route.
Blackpoll Warbler: common questions
How does the blackpoll warbler survive a multi-day flight over open ocean?
Before beginning its transoceanic journey, this species can nearly double its body weight in stored fat, building up the fuel reserves needed to sustain continuous flight for up to three days without any opportunity to land, feed, or rest, an extreme physiological preparation matched by very few other songbirds attempting comparably long nonstop flights.
How far does the blackpoll warbler actually fly nonstop?
This species flies directly over the open Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to South America, a nonstop journey covering roughly 3,000 kilometres of open water that can take up to three days to complete, making it one of the longest continuous flights documented for any songbird species.
Why is the blackpoll warbler's song so hard to hear?
This species produces an extremely high-pitched, thin, repetitive song, among the highest-frequency songs of any North American warbler, and some listeners, particularly those with age-related high-frequency hearing loss, find the song genuinely difficult or impossible to hear at all, unlike the lower-pitched songs of many other warbler species.
Why has the blackpoll warbler declined?
Population declines are generally linked to the loss and degradation of boreal forest breeding habitat across northern Canada and Alaska, combined with pressures faced along its extraordinarily long migratory route, including habitat loss at stopover sites and the physical demands of its multi-day transoceanic flight, contributing to its classification as a species of conservation concern.