# Pine warbler

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Species of bird

Pine warbler Adult male Female Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Setophaga Species: S. pinus Binomial name Setophaga pinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Range of S. pinus (note: missing range on Hispaniola) Breeding range Year-round range Wintering range Synonyms Certhia pinus Linnaeus, 1766 Dendroica pinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Sylvia pinus Wilson, 1811[2] Dendroica vigorsii (Audubon, 1831) Sylvia pinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Sylvia vigorsii Audubon, 1831

The **pine warbler** (***Setophaga pinus***) is a small [songbird](/source/Songbird) of the [New World warbler](/source/New_World_warbler) family [Parulidae](/source/Parulidae). It is a permanent resident in the southeastern United States and also breeds in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States, where it is migratory. Unlike other wood-warblers, in addition to insects the pine warbler also sometimes consumes seeds.

## Taxonomy

The pine warbler was [formally described](/source/Species_description) in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in the [twelfth edition](/source/12th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae) of his *[Systema Naturae](/source/Systema_Naturae)* under the [binomial name](/source/Binomial_nomenclature) *Certhia pinus*.[3] Linnaeus based his entry on the "pine-creeper" that had been described and illustrated by the English naturalists [Mark Catesby](/source/Mark_Catesby) in 1731 and [George Edwards](/source/George_Edwards_(naturalist)) in 1760.[4][5] Edwards had doubts as to whether his specimen was the same species as illustrated by Catesby and included as a footnote "On a stricter examination I think it a species different from Catesby's".[5] Edwards' etching actually depicted a [blue-winged warbler](/source/Blue-winged_warbler) so that Linnaeus's name applied to two different species. This led to considerable instability in the nomenclature which was only resolved when in 2009 a new binomial name, *Vermivora cyanoptera*, was proposed by [Storrs L. Olson](/source/Storrs_L._Olson) and [James L. Reveal](/source/James_L._Reveal) for the blue-winged warbler.[6][7] The [type location](/source/Type_location_(biology)) was restricted to the state of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) by the [American Ornithologists' Union](/source/American_Ornithologists'_Union) in 1931.[8] The pine warbler is now one of over 30 species placed in the [genus](/source/Genus) *[Setophaga](/source/Setophaga)* that was introduced by the English naturalist [William Swainson](/source/William_Swainson) in 1827.[9] The genus name *Setophaga* combines the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) σης/*sēs*, σητος/*sētos* meaning "moth" with -φαγος/*-phagos* meaning "-eating".[10]

Four [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are recognised:[9]

- *S. p. pinus* ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1766) – breeds southeast Canada and east USA

- *S. p. florida* ([Maynard](/source/Charles_Johnson_Maynard), 1906) – south Florida

- *S. p. achrustera* ([Bangs](/source/Outram_Bangs), 1900) – Bahamas

- *S. p. chrysoleuca* ([Griscom](/source/Ludlow_Griscom), 1923) – [Hispaniola](/source/Hispaniola)

## Description

These birds have white bellies, two white wing bars, dark legs and thin, relatively long pointed [bills](/source/Beak); they have yellowish 'spectacles' around their eyes. Adult males have olive upperparts and bright yellow throats and breasts; females and immatures display upperparts which are olive-brown. Their throats and breasts are paler. The adult male pine warbler looks somewhat similar to the [yellow-throated vireo](/source/Yellow-throated_vireo) which may cause some identification problems.

Standard Measurements[11][12] Total Body Length 5–5.75 in (127–146 mm) Weight 12 g (0.42 oz) Wingspan 8.75 in (222 mm) Wing 68.9–72.8 mm (2.71–2.87 in) Tail 52.9–56 mm (2.08–2.20 in) Culmen 9.9–11.6 mm (0.39–0.46 in) Tarsus 17.2–18.7 mm (0.68–0.74 in)

The song of this bird is a musical trill. Their calls are slurred *chip*s.

## Distribution and habitat

Their breeding habitats are open [pine](/source/Pine) woods in eastern [North America](/source/North_America). These birds are permanent residents in southern [Florida](/source/Florida). Some of them, however, [migrate](/source/Bird_migration) to northeastern [Mexico](/source/Mexico) and islands in [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda) and the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean). The first record for [South America](/source/South_America) was a vagrant wintering female seen at [Vista Nieve](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vista_Nieve&action=edit&redlink=1), [Colombia](/source/Colombia), on 20 November 2002; this bird was foraging as part of a [mixed-species feeding flock](/source/Mixed-species_feeding_flock) that also included wintering [Blackburnian](/source/Blackburnian_warbler) and [Tennessee warblers](/source/Tennessee_warbler).[13]

## Behavior

They forage slowly on tree trunks and branches by poking their bill into pine cones. These birds also find food by searching for it on the ground. These birds mainly eat insects, seeds and berries.

Their nests are deep, open cups, which are placed near the end of a tree branch. Pine warblers prefer to nest in pine trees, hence their names. Three to five blotched white eggs are laid.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_11_November_2021_1-0)** BirdLife International. (2021). ["*Setophaga pinus*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721719/137255800). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2021** e.T22721719A137255800. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22721719A137255800.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22721719A137255800.en). Retrieved 11 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Wilson, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Wilson_(ornithologist)) (1811). [*American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of the Birds of the United States: Illustrated with Plates Engraved and Colored from Original drawings taken from Nature*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46337741). Vol. 3. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep. p. 25, Plate 19 fig. 4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Linnaeus, Carl](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) (1766). [*Systema naturae: per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946383) (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 187.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Catesby, Mark](/source/Mark_Catesby) (1729–1732). [*The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40753301) (in English and French). Vol. 1. London: W. Innys and R. Manby. p. 61, plate 61. Published in 11 parts. For the dates see: Overstreet, Leslie K. (2014). "The dates of the parts of Mark Catesby's *The Natural History of Carolina ...* (London, 1731–1743 [1729–1747])". *Archives of Natural History*. **41** (2): 362–364. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3366/anh.2014.0256](https://doi.org/10.3366%2Fanh.2014.0256).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-edwards_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-edwards_5-1) [Edwards, George](/source/George_Edwards_(naturalist)) (1760). [*Gleanings of Natural History, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants &c...*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57914846) (in English and French). Vol. 2. London: Printed for the author, at the College of Physicians. p. 139, plate 277.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Olson, S.L.](/source/Storrs_L._Olson); [Reveal, J.L.](/source/James_L._Reveal) (2009). "Nomenclatural history and a new name for the Blue-winged Warbler (Aves: Parulidae)". *Wilson Journal of Ornithology*. **121** (3): 618–620. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1676/09-003.1](https://doi.org/10.1676%2F09-003.1). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [20616949](https://www.jstor.org/stable/20616949).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Chesser, R Terry; Banks, Richard C; Barker, F Keith; Cicero, Carla; Dunn, Jon L; Kratter, Andrew W; Lovette, Irby J; Rasmussen, Pamela C; Remsen, JV Jr; Rising, James D; Stotz, Douglas F; Winker, Kevin (2010). ["Fifty-First Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds"](https://doi.org/10.1525%2Fauk.2010.127.4.966). *The Auk*. **127** (3): 726–744 [736]. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1525/auk.2010.127.4.966](https://doi.org/10.1525%2Fauk.2010.127.4.966).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Committee on Classification and Nomenclature (1931). [*Check-list of North American Birds*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5824081) (4th ed.). Lancaster, Pennsylvania: American Ornithologists' Union. p. 291.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ioc_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ioc_9-1) [Gill, Frank](/source/Frank_Gill_(ornithologist)); Donsker, David; [Rasmussen, Pamela](/source/Pamela_C._Rasmussen), eds. (February 2025). ["New World warblers, mitrospingid tanagers"](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/warblers/). *IOC World Bird List Version 15.1*. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Jobling, James A. ["Setophaga"](https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/key-to-scientific-names/search?q=Setophaga). *The Key to Scientific Names*. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 10 September 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BOC_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BOC_11-1) Godfrey, W. Earl (1966). *The Birds of Canada*. Ottawa: National Museum of Canada. p. 338.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sibley_12-0)** [Sibley, David Allen](/source/David_Allen_Sibley) (2000). [*The Sibley Guide to Birds*](https://archive.org/details/sibleyguidetobir00sibl_0/page/442). New York: Knopf. p. [442](https://archive.org/details/sibleyguidetobir00sibl_0/page/442). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-679-45122-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-679-45122-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Strewe2004_13-0)** Strewe, Ralf; Navarro, Cristobal (2004). ["New and noteworthy records of birds from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, north-eastern Colombia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051231225615/http://www.alpec.org/Articulo%20BBOC/Strewe%20%26%20Navarro%202004%20BBOC%20124%20%281%29.pdf) (PDF). *[Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club](/source/Bulletin_of_the_British_Ornithologists'_Club)*. **124** (1): 38–51. Archived from [the original](http://www.alpec.org/Articulo%20BBOC/Strewe%20&%20Navarro%202004%20BBOC%20124%20(1).pdf) (PDF) on 2005-12-31. Retrieved 2020-03-17.

## External links

[Wikispecies](/source/Wikispecies) has information related to ***[Setophaga pinus](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Setophaga_pinus)***.

- ["Pine warbler media"](https://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/pine-warbler-dendroica-pinus). *[Internet Bird Collection](/source/Internet_Bird_Collection)*.

- [Pine warbler - *Dendroica pinus*](https://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6710id.html) - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter

- [Pine warbler species account](https://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Warbler.html) - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

- [Pine warbler bird sound](http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/index.php/download_file/view/1336/724/) at Florida Museum of Natural History

- [BirdLife species factsheet for *Dendroica pinus*](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22721719)

- [Pine warbler photo gallery](https://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=Pine+warbler&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24) at VIREO (Drexel University)

- [Audio recordings of Pine warbler](http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-pinus) on [Xeno-canto](/source/Xeno-canto).

Taxon identifiers Setophaga pinus Wikidata: Q27075932 Wikispecies: Setophaga pinus ABA: pinwar ADW: Dendroica_pinus Avibase: 6283E61EEF174882 BirdLife: 22721719 BOLD: 670053 BOW: pinwar CoL: 4X3C7 eBird: pinwar GBIF: 7341816 GNAB: pine-warbler iNaturalist: 145244 ITIS: 950045 IUCN: 22721719 NatureServe: 2.101876 NCBI: 182907 Neotropical: pinwar Observation.org: 262182 OBIS: 1484427 Open Tree of Life: 352791 Xeno-canto: Setophaga-pinus Certhia pinus Wikidata: Q28468123 CoL: 69N9G ITIS: 950109

Authority control databases National Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pine warbler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_warbler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_warbler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.