Which warbler species migrates non-stop from North America to South America over the ocean?

The blackpoll warbler migrates non-stop from North America to South America over the Atlantic Ocean.

In autumn, blackpoll warblers gather along the northeastern coast of North America before beginning a remarkable transoceanic flight. Many travel from areas such as Nova Scotia and New England toward the Caribbean and northern South America, crossing roughly 2,500 to 3,000 kilometres of open water.

To prepare, the tiny songbirds nearly double their body mass by storing fat. A nonstop crossing can last about 62 to 88 hours, and the birds use favourable winds to reduce the energy required for the journey. Light-level geolocators later confirmed the route and showed that spring and autumn migrations follow dramatically different paths.

The Arctic tern migrates farther overall, but it is not a warbler and uses a different polar route. Ruby-throated hummingbirds and barn swallows also migrate across the Americas, yet the blackpoll is the canonical answer for this famous nonstop ocean crossing by a songbird.