The blackpoll warbler makes a nonstop autumn flight across the Atlantic from eastern Canada to South America.
Blackpoll warblers breed in boreal forests across Alaska and Canada. In autumn, many birds move east toward the Atlantic coast before beginning a long southward flight over the ocean. They are thought to reach the Caribbean and northern South America after flying for several days without landing.
Before departure, the birds undergo hyperphagia, eating heavily and storing fat. Their body mass can increase substantially, providing fuel for the demanding ocean crossing. Favorable winds are especially important because the birds cannot stop to feed or drink on the open sea.
The black-and-white breeding male is distinctive, but autumn birds are much less strongly marked. The blackpoll is also different from the similarly named blackpoll gull, which is not a recognized species.