In On the Move, our regular column about migration, we present pairs of distribution maps from eBird that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of year. We featured Wilson’s Warbler, pictured above, in our April 2016 issue.

Wilson’s Warbler

January 2005-15 (left); April 2005-15 (right)

Familiar Wilson’s Warbler, one of our most widespread wood-warblers, breeds across Alaska and Canada, south along the Pacific Coast to California, and in parts of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. In January, it occurs mainly from northern Mexico south through Central America to central Panama. Purple squares in California and along the Gulf Coast represent small wintering populations. Nonbreeding warblers use a broad range of habitat types, including evergreen and deciduous forest, mangroves, thorn-scrub, and cloud forest. The April map shows the warbler as it is migrating. Purple squares connote individuals pushing north across the United States, especially through southwestern and Pacific states. During the breeding season, look for Wilson’s Warbler in dense deciduous thickets, bogs, and riparian areas from sea level to near the alpine zone.

See eBird’s real-time distribution map for Wilson’s Warbler.

eBird is the real-time online checklist operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. “On the Move” is written by eBird’s Garrett MacDonald, Chris Wood, Marshall Iliff, and Brian Sullivan. Submit your bird sightings at ebird.org.

A version of this article appeared in “Birding Briefs” in the April 2016 issue of BirdWatching. Subscribe.

See more maps from “On the Move.”

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