These songbirds average about 4.5 inches long with olive-green back and rump plumage, a black bib, except for the first year of its life history, in which case the bib is often white, and deep yellow cheeks. The female is a drabber olive green with black streaks and dull yellow throat and chin. Weight averages 10 grams, though individuals tend to be heavier during the breeding season (Pulich 1976). Warblers arrive from wintering grounds in Mexico in March to Central Texas counties and leave again in August. (Pulich 1976).

The Golden Cheeked warbler uses the Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) as the primary tree for nesting, though sometimes redberry juniper will be used. Feeding and foraging is done during the morning and afternoon in the upper two third level of its habitat and is not restricted to juniper. Food consists mainly of flies, beetles, and other bugs, including bagworms (Pulich 1976). This species uses freely available water, both for drinking and bathing

Nesting season begins in June. These warblers nest only in Central Texas (especially Bexar, Travis, and Bell counties) and migrate only as far as pine-oak habitats in Mexico (Beardmore et al, 1995). Research is ongoing as to breeding behavior, territorial ecology, fecundity, dispersal, etc. (Beardmore 1995). Nests are constructed by the female using long strips of Ashe juniper bark and usually around 15 feet above the ground. She lays one clutch per season, barring early season mishap, and clutches generally consist of 3-4 eggs. Incubation lasts 12 days, during which time the male sings to defend the territory. Young leave the nest after 8 or 9 days. Brown headed cowbirds have been known to act as nest parasites. (Pulich 1976).

Urbanization has taken its toll on this particular species as it has such a narrow range of habitat tolerance. As cities and fields replace juniper patches, critical nesting habitat is lost. The species was listed as endangered in 1990 (TPWD 1999).

Prevention of overbrowsing of woody vegetation by stock, restoration of juniper habitat, minimization of canopy disturbance by roads, fences, and such, and proper management to avoid oak wilt disease are important factors in managing for golden cheeked warbler habitat (Beardmore et al, 1995). Cowbird trapping and control of predators such as blue jays, cats, and raccoons, as well as careful monitoring of human impacts is also suggested (Beardmore et al, 1995). The most recent survey of the warbler was taken in 1992. This study found between 4,822 and 16,016 pairs of golden-cheeks (USFWS).

 Links

Smithsonian Institute Conservation and Research Center

Spatial Attributes of Habitat

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Travis County Audubon Society

Individual Cowbird Behavior Model

Beardmore, Carol, Hatfield, Jeff, and Jim Lewis. Golden Cheeked Warbler Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Report. TX: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995.

Lambert, Eric. "Spatial Assesment for Golden Cheeked Warbler". www.snr.uvm.edu/ericl/warbler.html 4/2/99.

Pulich, Warren M. The Golden-Cheeked Warbler. Austin, TX: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1976.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Division. "Golden Cheeked Warbler." http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/gcw.htm 4/2/99.