A small, vivid scarlet bird that is easily recognizable not only due to its hue but also its excessively lively state!
The red warbler (Cardellina rubra) is a diminutive songbird, measuring 12.5–13.5 cm (4.9–5.3 in) in length and weighing between 7.6 to 8.7 g (0.27 to 0.31 oz). Fully grown avian creatures exhibit a crimson hue throughout their bodies, adorned with either a pale white or a charcoal gray (depending on the subspecies) patch near the ears. The wings and tail possess a slightly deeper shade of reddish-brown, with a delicate pinkish-red border. The legs showcase a lackluster reddish-brown tone, while the bill takes on a pinkish-gray coloration with a darkened tip. The iris of the eye presents a dark brown to nearly black shade.
There is minimal variation in the feather coloring between the genders, albeit the female may exhibit a slightly less vibrant or somewhat tinged with orange plumage.
Following the breeding season, adult pairs disperse and undergo a complete molt starting from August.
The distribution of this species is restricted to Mexico, with its range spanning from the southern regions of Chihuahua to the southern areas of Hidalgo.
The preferred habitat for the red warbler consists of moist and partially moist forests dominated by pine, pine-oak, fir, and to a lesser extent, oak trees, primarily situated at elevated altitudes. These birds can be found at heights ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 meters.
Red-faced Warblers prefer to forage in trees with dense foliage, particularly in conifers, where they glean a variety of insects, especially caterpillars, from the outer branches. This species also hover-gleans like a flycatcher to catch insects.
The Red-faced Warbler builds its cup-shaped nest in a hollow on the ground. The nest site is often on a slope in the open or at the base of a woody plant. Sometimes the nest site has an overhang provided by a plant stem, log, or rock, which helps to conceal and protect the nest. The nest is built by the female and is made of bark, leaves, or pine needles with a lining of grasses or animal hair. Only the female incubates the eggs for 16 days, but both parents feed the young when they hatch. Chicks become fledged after 10-11 days.
This species is regarded as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, having a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 50.000-500.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.
