Banner Photo by Ann Kramer

Featured Bird

MEET THE YELLOW-Rumped WARBLER (Setophaga coronata) – by Jeff Sinker

Found across almost all of North America, either migrating, breeding or wintering, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is a year-round resident throughout much of western Washington and because of its habit of flying out from the outer tree canopies to catch insects, or consuming winter berries at Wiley Slough, this warbler is easier to see than most. This species has two distinctive sub-species, Myrtle’s and Audubon’s. In the western US, the Audubon’s sub-species is most commonly seen and is pictured here.

In breeding plumage, this handsome warbler stands out from the crowd. Males are dark-blueish gray, with black-and-white showing on their wings and breasts, a bright yellow throat, a yellow patch on either side of their body and a prominent yellow rump patch. Females are overall duller with yellow in all the same places as males but may also show a few streaks of brown.

Where might you find them? In the Pacific Northwest, they live from sea level to the mountains. They may even show up at bird feeders for suet, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. You might also find them on an ocean beach, plucking insects off dried piles of seaweed, or in the barnyard or pasture dining on insects attracted to manure piles. As you may have guessed, insects, including the serious forest pest, spruce budworm, are the mainstay of their diet. During the winter months, when insects are not plentiful, they easily switch over to eating winter berries. These warblers have a unique digestive adaptation that allows them to winter farther north than any other warbler, which is how they are able to digest the wax found in wax myrtle and bayberries. No other warbler can eat these fruits.

The female builds a cup-shaped nest, usually placed on the horizontal limb of a conifer branch, and lays anywhere from 1-6 eggs. After incubating for 12-13 days, nestlings spend 10-14 days in the nest before fledging. A successful pair can raise 1-2 broods per season.

Overall, their population has remained stable, but they are frequently killed during their nighttime migration flights when they collide with tall buildings, towers and other similar structures.

Learn more: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler

Photo credit: Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s) by Emily Turteltaub Nelson/Macaulay Library

Range map: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler

Range map: purple (year-round); yellow (migration); orange (breeding); blue (nonbreeding)