northern parula

1. Bird Name
English: Northern Parula
Scientific: Setophaga americana

2. Appearance
The Northern Parula is a small yet striking species of bird. Both males and females sport hues of blue and green, with yellow underparts. The brightness of hues in males is more prominent, especially during the breeding season. The male sports a distinctive chestnut or black band across its chest. The bird has a compact body, paired with a black beak and dark eyes that complement its jeweled-toned plumage.

3. Size
The Northern Parula is a part of the warbler family and hence is small in size. It measures between 10 to 14 cm long and weighs about 5-11g. The wingspan is around 16–18 cm, giving it the ability to nimbly fly between trees.

4. Habitat & Distribution
The Northern Parulas are usually found across North America, with their range extending from Canada to Florida in the southeastern United States. Occasionally, they have been sighted in western Europe as vagrants. This bird species prefer to live in moist forests, usually settling for mature deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests that bear Spanish moss, lichens, or other beard-like moss.

5. Interesting Facts
– The Northern Parula’s nesting materials consist of “Old Man’s Beard” lichen and Spanish moss.
– During migration, they fly at night and rest during the day.
– Their population can fluctuate depending on the availability of Spanish moss.

6. Diet
The Northern Parula feeds primarily on insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and aphids. It forages actively high in the trees’ canopy, gleaning insects from the undersides of leaves and twigs.

7. Behavior & Sounds
The Northern Parula is a skilled flyer, capable of agile aerial maneuvers. They exhibit an interesting nesting behavior where instead of building a traditional nest, they weave a hanging shelter from moss and lichen. Their call is a sharp, rising ‘zreet’. During breeding season, males perform an elaborate courtship song to attract females, a rapid series of buzzy notes followed by a downward slurred note.

8. Conservation Status
As per the IUCN Red List, the Northern Parula is listed as ‘Least Concern’. It has a large range and the population appears to be stable. But continued habitat loss could potentially pose a threat in the future.

9. Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Northern Parula in the wild is about five years. This can extend beyond under favourable conditions or in captivity but there is little data available on their lifespan in captivity.

10. Additional Notes
-Northern Parula is also known as ‘American Parula’ in some regions of its range.
-These birds play an important role in controlling insect populations in their habitats.
-Though usually shy birds, they can be quite tolerant of human presence if not disturbed.

This makes the Northern Parula a fascinating example of North America’s rich avian biodiversity. Their continued survival will be cheered on by bird enthusiasts and ecologists alike. From their distinctive chest markings to their unique interaction with insects, these little warblers are a gem of Northern American forests.