Arrowhead warbler

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Arrowhead warbler
Setophaga pharetra Blue Mountains 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Setophaga
Species:
S. pharetra
Binomial name
Setophaga pharetra
(Gosse, 1847)
Setophaga pharetra map.svg
Synonyms [2]
  • Sylvicola pharetra Gosse, 1847
  • Dendroica pharetra (Gosse, 1847)

The arrowhead warbler (Setophaga pharetra) is a species of passerine in the family Parulidae, endemic to Jamaica.

Contents

Taxonomy

The arrowhead warbler was first formally described as Sylvicola pharetra in 1847 by the English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse with its type locality given as Bluefields Peak. [2] This species is now classified within the genus Setophaga which belongs to the family Parulidae, the wood warblers or New World warblers. [3] The arrowhead warbler forms a superspecies with the Elfin woods warbler (S. angelae) of Puerto Rico and the Plumbeous warbler (S. plumbea) of Guadeloupe and Dominica. [4]

Etymology

The arrowhead warbler is classified in the genus Setophaga, this name means "moth eater" in Greek. The specific name, pharetra, is Latin and means "quiver". [5]

Description

The arrowhead warbler is sexually dimorphic, the male has bold, rather untidy black streaks on the white head, mantle and scapulars with a plain greyish rump changing to olive-grey on the uppertail coverts. The wings are blackish with thin pale edges to the feathers, these form a double pale wingbar on the greater coverts. The underparts are whitish marked with arrowshapted black streakson the throat, breast, upper belly and the grey washed flanks, the undertail coverts greyish-brown The female is similar to the male but duller and less contrasting than the males and their streaks being greyer in colour. This bird is 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in length. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The arrowhead warbler is endemic to Jamaica where it is found in humid forests in both mountains and lowlands, but it does not breed in the lowlands. [4]

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Setophaga pharetra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22721746A94728524. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22721746A94728524.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Arrowhead Warbler Setophaga pharetra (Gosse, PH 1847)". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  3. AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". AviList: The Global Avian Checklist. doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025 . Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Jon Curson; David Quinn; and David Beadle (1994). New World Warblers. Helm Identification Guides. Christopher Helm (Publishers) Ltd. pp. 154–155. ISBN   0713639326.
  5. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. p.  355. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.