The young gain weight rapidly during the first five days after hatching, doubling their weight every two days. During the last three days in the nest, their growth rate decreases and their energy is directed towards providing their own body warmth, plumage development,and heightened physical activity. The young leave the nest 9-10 days after hatching. During the fledging period, the brood is divided in half, each parent taking care of select offspring. Behavior Males are the first to arrive at the nesting grounds in the spring, and they begin singing immediately.
Females soon follow with late arriving males.
They also seek out areas with ground cover composed of blueberries, bearberry, or sweetfern. These warblers also require a very specific soil type, the Grayling Sands, which is important because they nest on the ground and their nests would be flooded if rain water did not drain away quickly. Their winter habitat in the the Bahamas consists of low scrub. During the night they retreat to higher shrubs to roost. The warbler's endangered species status has affected the ability of private landowners to develop property containing warbler habitat.