TX’s Most Wanted

On this installment of Rare Birds, we have the Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons). Most individuals of this species live in Central Mexico (View range map).   But a few outposts of Rufous-capped Warblers reside in southern Texas and Arizona.  If you live in these areas, you're lucky if you see one!

Rufous-capped Warbler 

Coloring and Markings

As you can see from the photo above, the body is typically an olive-gray hue with a striking yellow chest and throat. The head is an earthen brown with a white eyebrow line extending from beak to neck.  The wings are round and short, and the tail is long and often flicked upwards sharply. 

Habitat

In their native Mexico, Rufous-capped Warblers live in the tropical highlands amongst the shrubs. American individuals can usually be found at the bottoms of canyons near running water.  They stay low in the vegetation to forage for river bugs, which makes human sightings very rare.

Feeding Habits

The Rufous-capped Warblers' diet primarily consists of spiders and bugs.  They are foragers that scan close to the ground for movement.  Unlike other birds their size, they rarely go fly-catching from perches.

Differences with Close Relative the Chestnut-capped Warbler

Chestnut-capped Warblers live in Central and South America, further south than the range of the Rufous-capped Warbler. Until recently, the two were categorized as a single species.  The primary difference is the much more extensive yellow coloring on the Chestnut-capped Warbler (see below).  This yellow extends nearly to the tail.

All of you Texans: have you seen one of these little birds?