The Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) is easily recognizable due to its vibrant yellow plumage. Adult males are particularly striking with their rich, yellow bodies adorned with reddish streaks on the chest. Females and young birds are also primarily yellow but have paler and less streaked underparts, making them slightly more subdued in appearance.
These warblers are widespread and adaptable, inhabiting a variety of settings such as marshes, gardens, and woodland edges. Their preference for areas with dense shrubbery or trees provides ample opportunities for foraging and nesting. Yellow Warblers are primarily insectivorous, skillfully gleaning caterpillars and other insects from foliage.
A notable aspect of their behavior is their response to nest parasites like the Brown-headed Cowbird. If a cowbird lays eggs in their nest, Yellow Warblers often build a new nest layer on top, sometimes resulting in nests several layers deep.
During breeding season, which spans from late spring to summer, they can be found across North America, migrating to Central and South America in the winter. Their bright, sweet song is a familiar sound in their habitats, adding a cheerful note to their surroundings.
Researchers in Oregon are working on a huge survey of birds in the state: Oregon 2020. Data from field observations is being compiled to determine the abundance and distribution of Oregon's bird species. The study in part uses data collected by citizen scientists who bird the state and... Read more »
The different New World warbler species have a lot in common with each other. They mostly feed on insects, they sing, they raise their young. But the nests they use have some variety. Some nest in trees, and some nest on or near the ground. They build cups,... Read more »
A mnemonic device is something used to aid memory or learning. Sometimes birders 'translate' bird songs into mnemonics to help them remember which bird is singing a particular song. We've made a fun quiz showing ten of our Birdorable birds and the common mnemonics birdwatchers sometimes use to... Read more »
Today's highlighted t-shirt design features six of our Birdorable eastern Wood-Warblers. Have fun learning your warblers with this cute original design from Birdorable! They are: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Wilson's Warbler and Kirtland's Warbler, shown here on... Read more »
