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| General Comments |
In 2010, the American Ornithologists' Union moved several warblers out of the genus Vermivora, which remains the genus for Golden-winged and Blue-winged warblers. However, this species was moved from the genus Oreothlypis in June 2019 by the AOS -- a second "change of address" in ten years! This is a classic breeding songbird of the boreal forests of Canada, barely nesting south to the northeastern states. It winters completely south of the states; thus, this is one of the relatively few songbirds in the East that are actually "pure migrants" in North Carolina, though there are just a few confirmed winter records for the state. Thankfully, it can hardly be missed in fall in the mountains, when it can be the most common bird in mixed-species flocks; a few dozen can be seen in a day, and at times even 100 or more can be seen in a good day after a cold front. However, in spring the bulk of the birds move northward to the west of the Appalachians. Though it nests in spruce-fir stands, it is usually found with other warblers in hardwood forests and woodlots during migration.
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| Breeding Status |
Nonbreeder |
| NC BRC List |
Definitive |
| State Status |
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| U.S. Status |
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| State Rank |
SZ |
| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Coastal Plain |
Transient. In spring, very rare in the region (about 13 reports -- 3 in 2021). In fall, generally uncommon over most of the region, but rare near the coast. Mainly early to mid-May, and early Sep to late Oct. Two photograph-documented winter records: Mattamuskeet NWR (Hyde) on 13 Dec 2020, and at a feeder in New Bern (Craven) from 3-15 Feb 2021. Peak counts: |
| Piedmont |
Transient. In spring, very rare to rare in the eastern portion, and rare farther west. In fall, fairly common in the western portion, but uncommon over the central and eastern portions. Mainly mid- or late Apr to mid-May, and late Aug to late Oct. One reported on 27 Nov was extremely late. Six winter records: one was mist-netted and collected at Durham on 15 Feb 1967, the specimen corroborated by U.S. National Museum staff (Auk 85:499); one was photographed at Hillsborough, Orange, 24 Dec 2012* [Chat 77:6-10 link] [Chat 77:62 link]; one photographed in Cary (Wake), 20 Jan 2020 [Chat 84:70 link]; one photographed at a Charlotte feeder, 27-29 Jan 2021; one photographed at a feeder south of Raleigh on 19 Feb 2021; and one photographed at a feeder in Gaston, 14 Feb into Mar 2024. Peak counts: |
| Mountains |
Transient. In spring, rare to uncommon, mainly in valleys and elsewhere below about 3,500 feet. In fall, common over the region, at nearly all elevations; can be very common a day after a cold front, at higher elevations. Mainly late Apr to early May, and mid-Aug through Oct. Out of season was one photographed at Roan Mountain (Mitchell) on 19 Jul 2024. One at Mills River (Henderson) on 2 Dec 2006 was an extremely late fall migrant [Chat 71:48 link]. Peak counts: "thousands", Great Smoky Mountains NP, 7 Sep 2002; 500, Blue Ridge Junction Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway, 21 Sep 2003. |
| Finding Tips |
The species is difficult to miss on a day of birding in the mountains during much of September, such as at overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway (below the spruce-fir zone).
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| Attribution |
LeGrand[2024-11-11], LeGrand[2024-08-06], LeGrand[2024-05-14] |
