New World warbler

The family Parulidae was introduced for the New World warblers in 1947 by the American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore and colleagues with Parula as the type genus.[3]

The family is sister to a clade containing the yellow-breasted chat in its own family Icteriidae, the wrenthrush in its own family Zeledoniidae, the two Cuban warblers in the family Teretistridae and the 109 species in the family Icteridae.[4][1]

A molecular phylogenetic study of the Parulidae published in 2010 found that the species formed several major clades that did not align with the traditional genera.[2] This led to a major reorganization of the species within the family to create monotypic genera. The changes have generally followed the recommendations of the authors of the study except in a few cases where the proposed genera were split to separate basal species from their proposed conspecifics.[1][2]

A large clade that included the 29 species then placed in the genus Dendroica, also included four species of Parula, one of the three species of Wilsonia and the monotypic genera Catharopeza and Setophaga. All members of the clade apart from the basal Catharopeza were placed in the expanded genus Setophaga Swainson, 1827, which under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, had priority over Dendroica Gray, 1842, Wilsonia Bonaparte, 1838, and Parula Bonaparte, 1838.[1][2]

The species that had traditionally been placed in Basileuterus formed two clades. One group retains the genus name as it includes the golden-crowned warbler, the type species for the genus. The other larger group, now with 18 species, is placed in the resurrected genus Myiothlypis Cabanis, 1850, as it contains the type species, the black-crested warbler.[1][2]

The genus Myioborus containing the whitestarts remained unchanged after the reorganization but six genera were no longer used: Dendroica, Ergaticus, Euthlypis, Parula, Wilsonia and Phaeothlypis.[1][2]

Extant Genera

The family Parulidae now contains 119 species divided into 18 genera.[1]

Image	Genus	Living Species
	Seiurus Swainson, 1827	oven bird,Seiurus aurocapilla
	Helmitheros Rafinesque, 1819	worm-eating warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum
	Parkesia Sangster, 2008	Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
	Vermivora Swainson, 1827	Bachman's warbler, Vermivora bachmanii Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
	Mniotilta Vieillot, 1816	black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
	Protonotaria Baird, 1858	prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea
	Limnothlypis Stone, 1914	Swainson's warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
	Oreothlypis Ridgway, 1884	Flame-throated warbler, Oreothlypis gutturalis Crescent-chested warbler, Oreothlypis superciliosa
	Leiothlypis Sangster, 2008	Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata Colima warbler, Leiothlypis crissalis Lucy's warbler, Leiothlypis luciae Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla Virginia's warbler, Leiothlypis virginiae
	Leucopeza Sclater, 1876	Semper's warbler, Leucopeza semperi
	Oporornis Baird, 1858	Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis
	Geothlypis Cabanis, 1847	Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas Belding's yellowthroat, Geothlypis beldingi Altamira yellowthroat, Geothlypis flavovelata Bahama yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata New Providence yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata rostrata (extinct: 1990s?) Olive-crowned yellowthroat, Geothlypis semiflava Black-polled yellowthroat, Geothlypis speciosa Masked yellowthroat, Geothlypis aequinoctialis Southern yellowthroat, Geothlypis (aequinoctialis) velata Black-lored yellowthroat, Geothlypis (aequinoctialis) auriculata Chiriqui yellowthroat, Geothlypis (aequinoctialis) chiriquensis Gray-crowned yellowthroat, Geothlypis poliocephala Hooded yellowthroat, Geothlypis nelsoni MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa
	Catharopeza P.L. Sclater, 1880	whistling warbler, Catharopeza bishopi
	Setophaga Swainson, 1827	Plumbeous warbler, Setophaga plumbea Elfin woods warbler, Setophaga angelae Arrowhead warbler, Setophaga pharetra Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina American redstart. Setophaga ruticilla Kirtland's warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea Northern parula, Setophaga americana Tropical parula, Setophaga pitiayumi Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca American yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum Olive-capped warbler, Setophaga pityophila Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata Myrtle warbler, Setophaga coronata coronata Audubon's warbler, Setophaga coronata auduboni Black-fronted warbler, Setophaga coronata nigrifrons Goldman's warbler, Setophaga coronata goldmani Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica Bahama warbler, Setophaga flavescens Vitelline warbler, Setophaga vitellina Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor Adelaide's warbler, Setophaga adelaidae Barbuda warbler, Setophaga subita Saint Lucia warbler, Setophaga delicata Grace's warbler, Setophaga graciae Black-throated grey warbler, Setophaga nigrescens Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi Hermit warbler, Setophaga occidentalis Golden-cheeked warbler, Setophaga chrysoparia Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens
	Myiothlypis Cabanis, 1850	Citrine warbler, Myiothlypis luteoviridis Santa Marta warbler, Myiothlypis basilica White-striped warbler, Myiothlypis leucophrys Flavescent warbler, Myiothlypis flaveola White-rimmed warbler, Myiothlypis leucoblephara Black-crested warbler, Myiothlypis nigrocristata Pale-legged warbler, Myiothlypis signata Buff-rumped warbler, Myiothlypis fulvicauda Riverbank warbler, Myiothlypis rivularis Two-banded warbler, Myiothlypis bivittata Golden-bellied warbler, Myiothlypis chrysogaster White-lored warbler, Myiothlypis conspicillata Grey-throated warbler, Myiothlypis cinereicollis Grey-and-gold warbler, Myiothlypis fraseri Russet-crowned warbler, Myiothlypis coronata
	Basileuterus Cabanis, 1848	Gray-headed warbler, Basileuterus griseiceps Golden-crowned warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus White-bellied warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus hypoleucus Three-banded warbler, Basileuterus trifasciatus Rufous-capped warbler, Basileuterus rufifrons Golden-browed warbler, Basileuterus belli Black-cheeked warbler, Basileuterus melanogenys Pirre warbler, Basileuterus ignotus Three-striped warbler, Basileuterus tristriatus Black-eared warbler, Basileuterus melanotis Tacarcuna warbler, Basileuterus tacarcunae Fan-tailed warbler, Basileuterus lachrymosus
	Cardellina Bonaparte, 1850	Canada warbler – Cardellina canadensis Wilson's warbler – Cardellina pusilla Red-faced warbler – Cardellina rubrifrons Red warbler – Cardellina rubra Pink-headed warbler – Cardellina versicolor
	Myioborus Baird, 1865	Painted whitestart, Myioborus pictus Slate-throated whitestart, Myioborus miniatus Brown-capped whitestart, Myioborus brunniceps Yellow-crowned whitestart, Myioborus flavivertex White-fronted whitestart, Myioborus albifrons Golden-fronted whitestart, Myioborus ornatus Spectacled whitestart, Myioborus melanocephalus Collared whitestart, Myioborus torquatus Paria whitestart, Myioborus pariae White-faced whitestart, Myioborus albifacies Guaiquinima whitestart, Myioborus cardonai Tepui whitestart, Myioborus castaneocapillus

All the warblers are fairly small. The smallest species is Lucy's warbler (Oreothlypis luciae), around 6.5 g and 10.6 cm (4.2 in). Which species is the largest depends upon which are to be included in the family. Traditionally, this was considered to be the yellow-breasted chat, at 18.2 cm (7.2 in). Since this may not be a parulid, the Parkesia waterthrushes, the ovenbird, the russet-crowned warbler, and Semper's warbler, all of which can exceed 15 cm (5.9 in) and 21 g, might be considered the largest.

The migratory species tend to lay larger clutches of eggs, typically up to six, since the hazards of their journeys mean that many individuals will have only one chance to breed. In contrast, the laying of two eggs is typical for many tropical species, since the chicks can be provided with better care, and the adults are likely to have further opportunities for reproduction.

Many migratory species, particularly those which breed further north, have distinctive male plumage at least in the breeding season, since males need to reclaim territory and advertise for mates each year. This tendency is particularly marked in the large genus Setophaga (formerly Dendroica). In contrast, resident tropical species, which pair for life, show little if any sexual dimorphism, but exceptions occur. The Parkesia waterthrushes and ovenbird] are strongly migratory, but have identical male and female plumage, whereas the mainly tropical and sedentary yellowthroats are dimorphic. The Granatellus chats also show sexual dimorphism, but due to recent genetic work, have been moved into the family Cardinalidae (New World buntings and cardinals).

• Curson, Quinn and Beadle, 1994. New World Warblers. 252 p. ISBN 0-7136-3932-6
• Dunn, Jon L.; Garrett, Kimball L. (1997). A Field Guide to Warblers of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-78321-4.
• Harrison, Hal H. 1984. Wood Warblers’ World. New York : Simon and Schuster, 335 p., 24 p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
• Lovette, I. J. and E. Bermingham. 2002. What is a wood-warbler? Molecular characterization of a monophyletic Parulidae. The Auk. 119(3): 695–714. PDF fulltext
• Morse, Douglass H. 1989. American Warblers : an Ecological and Behavioral Perspective. Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, xii, 406 p. : ill., maps.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parulidae.

Wikispecies has information related to Parulidae

• New World warblers (Parulidae) information, including 81 species with videos and 100 with photographs at the Internet Bird Collection
• "Chasing Down Warblers" National Geographic News story on seeing 30 warbler species in May 2002