warbler

warbler
/wawr"bleuhr/, n.
1. any of several small, chiefly Old World songbirds of the subfamily Sylviidae. Cf. blackcap (def. 1), reed warbler.
2. Also called wood warbler. any of numerous small New World songbirds of the family Parulidae, many species of which are brightly colored. Cf. yellow warbler.
3. a person or thing that warbles.
[1605-15; WARBLE1 + -ER1]

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Any songbird of almost 350 Old World species (family Sylviidae) or about 120 New World species (family Parulidae, see wood warbler).

Old World warblers, found in gardens, woodlands, and marshes, have a slender bill adapted for gleaning insects from foliage. They occur mainly from Europe and Asia to Africa and Australia, but a few (e.g., the gnatcatcher) live in the Americas. They are drab greenish, brownish, or black and 3.5–10 in. (9–26 cm) long. See also blackcap, blackpoll warbler, gnatcatcher, wood warbler.

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bird
      any of various species of small songbirds belonging to either the family Sylviidae (sometimes considered a subfamily, Sylviinae, of the family Muscicapidae; q.v.) or the family Parulidae, with both belonging to the order Passeriformes. Warblers are small, active insect eaters found in gardens, woodlands, and marshes.

 The Old World warblers of the family Sylviidae comprise almost 350 species and are intimately related to the thrushes and the Old World flycatchers. Members of the family occur mainly from Europe and Asia to Australia and Africa, but a few of these birds, notably the kinglet (q.v.; Regulus) and gnatcatcher (q.v.; Polioptila), live in the Americas. Many warblers of Europe are familiar enough to have received special names, such as the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), the whitethroat (S. communis), and the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita). Reed (see photograph—>), bush, and swamp warblers (Acrocephalus, Bradypterus, Calamocichla, and Cettia) are mostly brown-plumaged and harsh-voiced birds. Among other well-known genera of Old World warblers are the fantail warblers (see cisticola) and longtail warblers (see prinia).

      Old World warblers are rather drab, with green, olive, brown, buff, and black the predominant colours. They are mostly small birds (from 9 to 26 cm [3.5 to 10 inches]), and their slender bills are adapted for gleaning insects from foliage. Their nests vary from simple cups to domed structures placed in trees, bushes, or grass or hidden in the ground. The tailorbirds (Orthotomus) of India sew leaves together into purse-shaped containers for their nests. Old World warblers' eggs are usually speckled, and the young are cared for by both parents.

      The New World warblers, or woodwarblers, of the family Parulidae comprise about 120 species of small songbirds. Although these birds are closely related to the New World tanagers, they take their name from their superficial resemblance in form, structure, and habits to the distantly related Old World warblers. The woodwarblers are mainly found in North and Central America and live in forest, brush, or swampy grass country. They are small birds, ranging up to 18 cm (7 inches) in length, and are more brightly coloured than Old World warblers. Many woodwarblers have weak, lisping songs, but a few have loud voices. Their feeding and nesting habits resemble those of Old World warblers. See woodwarbler (wood warbler).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Warbler — War bler, n. 1. One who, or that which, warbles; a singer; a songster; applied chiefly to birds. [1913 Webster] In lulling strains the feathered warblers woo. Tickell. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small Old World… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • warbler — [wôr′blər] n. 1. a bird or person that warbles; singer; songster ☆ 2. any of a large, New World passerine family (Parulidae) of small, insect eating birds, many of which are brightly colored, as the yellow warbler, the prothonotary warbler, or… …   English World dictionary

  • warbler — agent noun from WARBLE (Cf. warble). Applied to Old World songbirds by 1773 and to North American birds that look like them but sing little by 1783 …   Etymology dictionary

  • warbler — ► NOUN ▪ a small songbird typically living in trees and bushes and having a warbling song …   English terms dictionary

  • Warbler — There are a number of Passeriformes (perching birds) called warblers . They are not particularly closely related, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, active and insectivorous.They are mostly brownish or dull greenish in… …   Wikipedia

  • warbler — UK [ˈwɔː(r)blə(r)] / US [ˈwɔrblər] noun [countable] Word forms warbler : singular warbler plural warblers 1) a type of small bird that sings 2) humorous someone who sings, but not very well …   English dictionary

  • warbler — noun Date: circa 1611 1. one that warbles ; singer, songster 2. a. any of numerous small chiefly Old World oscine birds (family Sylviidae) many of which are noted songsters and are closely related to the thrushes b. any of numerous small brightly …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • warbler — war•bler [[t]ˈwɔr blər[/t]] n. 1) orn Also called wood warbler any of numerous small New World songbirds of the subfamily Parulinae (family Emberizidae), many species of which are brightly colored. 2) orn any of numerous small, chiefly Old World… …   From formal English to slang

  • warbler — /ˈwɔblə / (say wawbluh) noun 1. someone or something that warbles. 2. any of the small, chiefly Eurasian songbirds constituting the family Sylviidae, represented in Australia by a few species, as the grassbirds, songlarks, the spinifexbird, and… …  

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