Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s) Gallery
Setophaga coronate
eBird gives this description for the Yellow-rumped Warbler: One of the most common and widespread warblers. Breeds in forested areas with at least some conifers. Found in open woods and shrubby areas during migration and winter, including coastal vegetation, parks, and residential areas. Forages for insects, often sallying out to snatch them in midair. Also eats berries in winter. Often travels in large flocks. Two subspecies: “Audubon’s” in the West and “Myrtle” in the East. “Audubon’s” has a yellow throat in all plumages. “Myrtle” has whitish throat. Most abundant wintering warbler in the U.S. All About Birds adds this descriptive information for the Yellow-rumped Warbler: Yellow-rumped Warblers are impressive in the sheer numbers with which they flood the continent each fall. Shrubs and trees fill with the streaky brown-and-yellow birds and their distinctive, sharp chips. Though the color palette is subdued all winter, you owe it to yourself to seek these birds out on their spring migration or on their breeding grounds. Spring molt brings a transformation, leaving them a dazzling mix of bright yellow, charcoal gray and black, and bold white.
I saw my first Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s) on my visit to Gage Gardens in Marathon, Texas, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 30, 2020. The next day at Christmas Mountains Oasis I was delighted to be able to watch this colorful bird again. Hope you enjoy my photos of this beautiful bird.
“Cool Facts” about the Yellow-rumped Warbler from All About Birds…
- The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the only warbler able to digest the waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles. Its ability to use these fruits allows it to winter farther north than other warblers, sometimes as far north as Newfoundland.
- Male Yellow-rumped Warblers tend to forage higher in trees than females do.
- Yellow-rumped Warblers are perhaps the most versatile foragers of all warblers. They’re the warbler you’re most likely to see fluttering out from a tree to catch a flying insect, and they’re also quick to switch over to eating berries in fall. Other places Yellow-rumped Warblers have been spotted foraging include picking at insects on washed-up seaweed at the beach, skimming insects from the surface of rivers and the ocean, picking them out of spiderwebs, and grabbing them off piles of manure.
- When Yellow-rumped Warblers find themselves foraging with other warbler species, they typically let Palm, Magnolia and Black-throated Green warblers do as they wish, but they assert themselves over Pine and Blackburnian warblers.
- The oldest recorded Yellow-rumped Warbler was at least 7 years old.