Length: 6-7 in. long
Wgt.: 20-28g
Insects, fruits, small seeds and nectar; especially eats large amounts of fruits during fall migration and feeds heavily on nectar form flowering trees on wintering areas
One clutch per season (nests late), 4-6 young per clutch; incubation by female; incubation 12-14 days and young first leave nest at about two weeks of age; commonly parasitized by cowbirds
Documented living at least 9 years and 7 months
Clearing or loss of suitable habitat through succession is a problem on the breeding grounds and along migration stopovers. Loss of riparian zones is accelerating on the breeding grounds. Pesticide use is increasing on the wintering grounds and still occurs on the breeding areas. Collisions with TV towers and other man-made structures a problem during migration. Cowbird parasitism and predation by edge-related predators likely a serious problem on the breeding grounds.