About Leiothlypis luciae (J.G.Cooper, 1861)
Lucy's warbler, scientifically named Leiothlypis luciae, is the smallest species of New World warbler. It ranges from 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) in length and weighs 5.1 to 7.9 g (0.18 to 0.28 oz), making it slightly smaller than the warblers that were formerly placed in the genus Parula. Standard measurements for the species are as follows: wing chord 49 to 61 mm (1.9 to 2.4 in), tail 33 to 41 mm (1.3 to 1.6 in), bill 7.8 to 9 mm (0.31 to 0.35 in), and tarsus 15 to 17.5 mm (0.59 to 0.69 in). Compared to other wood-warblers, it has a rather plain appearance, and it is likely the palest species within its family. Its head and upperparts are pale gray, while its underparts are whitish. It has a white eyering and a small, pointed bill. Both males and females have a rufous rump, which is a diagnostic field mark for the species. Adult males also have a small rusty patch on their crown. Juveniles are paler than adults, with a tawny rump and buffy wingbars. This species is closely related to Virginia's warbler, Nashville warbler, and Colima warbler. Both the common name and the scientific binomial of this species commemorate Lucy Hunter Baird, daughter of ornithologist Spencer Fullerton Baird. Lucy's warblers live in riparian mesquite and brushy country of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can nest in the driest vegetated areas of the Sonora Desert, and they nest in what is possibly the driest habitat of any New World warbler.
