Blackpoll Warbler

The Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) is a very rare breeding bird in Massachusetts, listed as Endangered by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. A lack of boreal habitat is the primary limitation of the species in the state, as it favors high altitude montane forests.

Conversely, the Blackpoll Warbler, in its olive drab autumn plumage, is one of the most common fall migrants in Massachusetts as they stage on the South Shore before their open ocean journey over the Atlantic Ocean to Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, or northern South America. This route averages 3,000 km (1,864 mi) over water, requiring a nonstop flight of up to 88 hours. To accomplish this flight, the Blackpoll Warbler nearly doubles its body mass and takes advantage of a shift in prevailing wind direction to direct it to its destination.