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  3. Elfin Woods Warbler

Birds · Passeriformes · Parulidae

Elfin Woods Warbler

Setophaga angelae

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

Spotted something wrong?

The elfin-woods warbler is one of the most recently discovered birds in the Caribbean: it was not described until 1971, in the elfin woodland of the summits of the Sierra de Luquillo, in Puerto Rico. It is black and white and lives in a tiny habitat: the stunted, moss-covered vegetation of the wettest summits of the island.

Weight

8 g – 12 g

Size

12 cm – 13 cm

Life expectancy

7 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Estimated population

Fewer than 2,000 mature individuals

RainforestMountainIslands
1countries1parks

Fun facts

  • It is one of the last birds to be described in the Caribbean: it was not discovered until 1971, in a forest a few hours from San Juan and on an island that had been studied for centuries.
  • It lives in the elfin woodland of the summits, a stunted, moss-covered vegetation that exists only above 600 metres in a few mountain ranges of Puerto Rico.
  • Hurricane María in 2017 flattened much of its habitat, and later monitoring is still assessing how far the population has recovered.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat and environment
Elfin woodland of the summits of the Sierra de Luquillo and the Cordillera Central of Puerto Rico
Sexual maturity
12 months
Gestation / incubation
13 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size
3 eggs

Sources consulted: Wikipedia (es): Setophaga angelae

Where to find it

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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Elfin Woods Warbler — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

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How to help

The elfin woods warbler is classified as endangered. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about elfin woods warbler.

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CountriesPuerto Rico
ParksEl YunquePuerto Rico
TagsInsectivore
Insectivore
Diurnal
In pairs
Endangered
Bird
Rainforest
Mountain
Islands
Puerto Rico