Kirtland's warbler, also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae). Nearly extinct just 50 years ago, populations have recovered due to the conservation efforts of Phil Huber and the U.S. Forest Service. It requires large areas, greater than 160 acres, of dense young jack pine for its breeding habitat. This habitat was historically created by wildfire, but today is created through the harvest of mature jack pine, and planting of jack pine seedlings.
Kirtland's warbler
Female
Kirtland's warbler found in northwest Ohio on May 14, 2010, on the shores of Lake Erie where migrant warblers occasionally appear in spring, perhaps before crossing into Ontario.
This Lower Peninsula jack pine stand was slightly too young in 2002, but by 2008 made good breeding habitat. By 2015–2020, the mature trees would form a forest nearly 20m high, rendering it unsuitable for Kirtland's warbler breeding.
The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds that make up the family Parulidae and are restricted to the New World. The family contains 120 species. They are not closely related to Old World warblers or Australian warblers. Most are arboreal, but some, like the ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are primarily terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
New World warbler
Image: Ovenbird (90497)
Image: Worm eating Warbler
Image: Seiurus noveboracensis MP1