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Worm-eating
Warbler
PARULINE VERMIVORE
Helmitheros
vermivorus
(Gmelin)
Accidental.
A
bird of dense undergrowth in the central-eastern United States, the Worm-eating
Warbler nests no closer to Manitoba than eastern Iowa and southern Wisconsin; however,
migrants frequently overshoot north of the breeding range in spring. With more
than 28 records in Minnesota, mainly in May,1 as well as a May sight
record for Saskatchewan,2 it was only a matter of time before the
species was added to the Manitoba list.
Manitoba’s
first Worm-eating Warbler was found by Adolf Ens, Rob Nickel and Ron Boese in
the cottage area near the beach at Delta on 20 May 1996. The obliging bird
remained there until at least 27 May, feeding among dead cattails and weeds,
brushpiles and fallen logs—apparently unperturbed by the dozens of observers
who watched, photographed and videotaped it at close range.3,4
Several observers commented that few illustrations do justice to the rich
olive-and-buff plumage of this species, which is set off attractively by bold
head-stripes.
1 Janssen 1987; 2 Galloway 1979; 3 AFN
50:296; 4 Koes 1997.
R.F. Koes
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