Nest-Site Selection and Breeding Ecology of the Cerulean Warbler in Southern Indiana

Setophaga cerulea (Cerulean Warbler) has been deemed one of the fastest-declining wood warblers in North America. Recent field studies have focused on understanding breeding requirements across its range and other natural life-history characteristics. During 2010–2011, we conducted a breeding study...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNortheastern naturalist Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 515 - 528
Main Authors Wagner, Jennifer R, Islam, Kamal
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Steuben Humboldt Field Research Institute 01.12.2014
Eagle Hill Institute
Northeastern Naturalist
Subjects
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Colleges & universities
Ecosystems
Forests
Investigations
Males
Natural resources
Phenology
Success
Trees
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Setophaga cerulea (Cerulean Warbler) has been deemed one of the fastest-declining wood warblers in North America. Recent field studies have focused on understanding breeding requirements across its range and other natural life-history characteristics. During 2010–2011, we conducted a breeding study in Indiana to ascertain reproductive success and document nest-site characteristics associated with 22 nesting locations. We also documented breeding phenology and feeding rates during the nestling stage. Cerulean Warblers had a preference for nesting in Quercus alba (White Oak). Nesting success (30.7%; measured directly through monitoring of nests or presence of fledglings within the territory) was lower than necessary for a source population, but average when compared to other parts of the range. We recommend further inquiry into the fate of the Indiana population, as well as studies to assess reproductive rates and suitable breeding habitats that may exist elsewhere in the Cerulean Warbler's range.
ISSN:1092-6194
1938-5307
DOI:10.1656/045.021.0403