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Golden-Cheeked Warbler
A star performer in Texas Hill Country.
© Aaron Maizlish
The Golden-cheeked Warbler is an endangered species and the only bird that nests exclusively in central Texas. Males arrive in March to stake out a territory in the juniper-oak woodlands – the older the trees, the better! By the end of July, the warblers are on their way back to mountain forests of southern Mexico and Central America. Sadly, deforestation has destroyed and fragmented much of their habitat across the Americas. Now, this special songbird’s future depends on people stepping up to protect our forests — from Nicaragua to Texas.
This episode is dedicated to naturalist Dave Sutherland from Boulder, Colorado, who has taught so many so much!
Escucha este episodio en español aquí.
BirdNote®
Golden-Cheeked Warbler
Written by Ariana Remmel
This is BirdNote.
The Golden-cheeked Warbler is a star performer. Boldly dressed in yellow, black, and white, these little birds and their buzzy song take center stage in Texas Hill Country.
[Golden-cheeked Warble]
The Golden-cheeked Warbler is an endangered species and the only bird that nests exclusively in central Texas. Males arrive in March to stake out a territory in the juniper-oak woodlands — the older the trees, the better!
While the female handles most of the nest construction and defense, both parents bring home the bugs to their hungry chicks. Look for them chasing insects on the wing or gleaning grubs from high in the canopy.
By the end of July, the warblers are on their way back to mountain forests of southern Mexico and Central America.
[Golden-cheeked Warbler]
Golden-cheeked Warblers can’t survive without healthy, mature woodlands. But deforestation has destroyed and fragmented much of their habitat across the Americas. Now, this special songbird’s future depends on people stepping up to protect our forests — from Nicaragua to Texas.
[Golden-cheeked Warbler]
For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.
This episode is dedicated to naturalist Dave Sutherland from Boulder, Colorado — who has taught so many so much!
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Golden-cheeked Warbler [ML188203] recorded by Bob McGuire.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote May 2026
Narrator: Michael Stein
ID# GCWA-01-2026-05-15 GCWA-01
Reference:
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/gchwar/cur/introduction
https://www.fws.gov/species/golden-cheeked-warbler-dendroica-chrysoparia
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-cheeked_Warbler/lifehistory
Michael Stein
Narrator
Ariana Remmel
WriterSights & Sounds
