A black-and-white striped warbler perched on a twig. — Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

A zebra-striped warbler that creeps along tree trunks like a nuthatch; its song sounds like a squeaky wheel.

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About the Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white warblers are 4.3 to 5.1 inches long and weigh a quarter to half an ounce. They are streaked black and white all over. They breed in leafy forests of eastern North America and winter in Central and northern South America. They eat insects and spiders, creeping along tree trunks and branches like a nuthatch.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Mniotilta varia^[1]
Size: 4.3 to 5.1 inches long.^[1]
Weight: About a quarter to half an ounce.^[1]
Lifespan: Usually a few years; up to 10.^[1]
Diet: Insects and spiders.^[1]
Habitat: Leafy forests; many wooded habitats in migration and winter.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds in eastern North America; winters in Central and northern South America.^[1]
Group life: Pairs when nesting; mixed flocks in migration. Active by day.^[1]
Babies: Speckled eggs that hatch after about two weeks.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

Its song sounds like a rusty wheel turning.^[1]
It's nicknamed the 'black-and-white creeper.'^[1]
It nests on the ground even though it feeds on tree trunks.^[1]

Vocabulary

warbler: A small, often colorful songbird that eats insects.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
territory: An area an animal claims and defends.
nuthatch: A small bird that creeps along tree trunks looking for insects.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Black-and-white warbler.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/black-and-white-warbler (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Mniotilta varia (Black-and-white Warbler).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721758/137353554 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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