Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechial

Spring is an exciting time of year anywhere you go really, with so many birds and other wildlife either mating, nesting, brooding, or rearing young all over the place. Some species are just arriving, or making their final stops on their way to their nesting grounds. One of those visitors that show up here to raise their family is the Yellow Warbler.

Spring and summer deliver a number of exciting migrants that travel from as far as South America, where they overwinter, and move north to breed. Some of these birds, such as the Western tanager and the black-headed grosbeak, are especially exciting to see due to the males’ brilliant colors.

A number of warbler species also come north in spring to add vibrant colors to Washington’s landscape. Wilson’s, yellow, yellow-rumped, orange-crowned, and MacGillivray’s warblers and common yellowthroats can be found in all or most of Washington State in the spring and summer. Other warbler species such as black-throated gray, Townsend’s, hermit, and Nashville warbler as well as northern waterthrush, yellow-breasted chat, and American redstart also migrate to the Evergreen State to breed.

The Yellow Warbler lives up to its name, being one of the brightest colored warblers in the Pacific Northwest. Their yellow coloring is marked with light chestnut streaking on their breast. Females lack the streaking, and aren’t as bright, so as not to draw as much attention to the nest. Both sexes have prominent black eyes and no facial markings.

Yellow Warblers are insectivores, so they won’t be spotted at your backyard bird feeder, but if you have a water source or wetlands nearby, you have a higher chance of spotting them. Larger yards that have small trees or are near streams may provide nesting habitat for these birds. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like “sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet.” Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees.

Yellow Warblers spend the breeding season in thickets and other disturbed or regrowing habitats, particularly along streams and wetlands. As male Yellow Warblers are setting up territories, they may perform a “circle flight” in which they fly toward a neighboring male or female in a horizontal, semicircular path. A male may also fly slowly with fast, exaggerated wingbeats away from a female he is courting or a male he is competing with. Yellow Warblers typically form monogamous pairs that sometimes last more than one breeding season and reform the next. Yellow Warblers defend their nesting territories from many species, including other

warbler species, chickadees, House Wrens, blackbirds, and Eastern Kingbirds. Common predators of Yellow Warbler nests include garter snakes, red squirrels, jays, crows, raccoons, weasels, skunks, and domestic or feral cats.

 

Did You Know? The nests of the Yellow Warbler are frequently parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird. The warbler will sometimes build a new nest directly on top of the parasitized one, which can result in nests with up to six tiers!

-Samantha Zeiner, Administrative Coordinator, Friends of RNWR