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New World Warblers (Parulidae)

Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla) - HBW 15, p. 740

French: Paruline à joues grises German: Rubinfleck-Waldsänger Spanish: Reinita de Nashville
Other common names: Grey-headed Warbler(!)

Taxonomy: Sylvia ruficapilla A. Wilson, 1811, near Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Recent studies of mitochondrial DNA indicate that this species and V. peregrina, V. celata, V. virginiae, V. crissalis and V. luciae form a clade, separate from the two other current congeners, and should be placed in a separate genus, for which the name Leiothlypis has been proposed; Parula gutturalis and Parula superciliosa appear to be sister to this group. Present species forms a superspecies with V. virginiae, sometimes with V. crissalis also included; the three have been considered conspecific, but such an arrangement.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Sylvia ruficapilla A. Wilson, 1811, near Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Recent studies of mitochondrial DNA indicate that this species and V. peregrina, V. celata, V. virginiae, V. crissalis and V. luciae form a clade, separate from the two other current congeners, and should be placed in a separate genus, for which the name Leiothlypis has been proposed; Parula gutturalis and Parula superciliosa appear to be sister to this group. Present species forms a superspecies with V. virginiae, sometimes with V. crissalis also included; the three have been considered conspecific, but such an arrangement not generally accepted. Has hybridized with V. peregrina and probably with Setophaga ruticilla. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • ridgwayi van Rossem, 1929 - breeds from SW Canada (S British Columbia) S in USA to C California; migrates to wintering grounds mainly in W Mexico (a few also in coastal S California).
  • ruficapilla ( A. Wilson, 1811) - breeds S & SE Canada (Saskatchewan E to S Quebec and S Newfoundland) and NE USA (Minnesota E to New England, and S in Appalachians to West Virginia); migrates to E Mexico and Guatemala, a few also in S Texas (and casually along Gulf coast to NW Florida).

Photos

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