yellow rumped warbler
1. Bird Name: The bird under discussion is popularly known as the Yellow-Rumped Warbler. In Latin, its scientific name is Setophaga coronata.
2. Appearance: The Yellow-Rumped Warbler is predominantly grey with striking flashes of yellow on its rump and sides, which explains its common name. It also has a patch of yellow on the crown, largely visible in males of the species. White bands marking the wings are another signature pattern. Males sport a black face mask that is less distinct or lacking in the females and juveniles. The eye is black, and there’s a fine white ring surrounding it often. The beak is thin, pointy, and anthracite in color, making it a great tool for gleaning small creatures and berries.
3. Size: On average, the Yellow-Rumped Warbler has a length of 13 cm (5 inches). The wingspan stretches from 19 cm to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.6 inches), while the weight ranges from 10 to 18 grams.
4. Habitat & Distribution: These birds are found across North America, with a summer range spanning from Alaska to New Brunswick and southward to California and New Mexico. In winter, they migrate to the southern United States, Mexico and Central America. They prefer habitats which include open pine and pine-deciduous forests, and also gravitate towards treetops in deciduous forests during migration.
5. Interesting facts: Yellow-Rumped Warblers are notable for their unique migratory behavior where they are one of the last warbler species to migrate north in the spring, and one of the first warblers to head south in the fall. They have the unique ability to digest waxes in bayberries and wax myrtle, which means they can survive on berries, a rarity for warblers.
6. Diet: Displaying a versatile diet, these birds feed on a variety of insects like beetles, caterpillars, and flies, as well as spiders. During winters or in non-breeding situations, they supplement their diet with berries, seeds, and fruits.
7. Behavior & Sounds: Yellow-Rumped Warblers are known for their active and often acrobatic feeding behavior, where they flutter around branches or fly out from perches to snatch insects in flight. Audibly, their songs are a series of clear whistled notes, or one repeated note. Call is typically a sharp check-sound or a milder ‘sweet’ sound.
8. Conservation Status: Thankfully, Yellow-Rumped Warblers are listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List, showing no immediate threat to their population scales.
9. Lifespan: Yellow-Rumped Warblers typically live for about 7 years, but there have been records of individuals reaching up to 8-9 years.
10. Additional Notes: These birds are known as “Paruline à croupion jaune” in French and “Chipe Platero” in Spanish. During foraging, they have been known to join mixed bird species flock for effective feeding. Yellow-Rumped Warblers play a vital role in ecosystems as they act as pest control by consuming a large number of insects.
