Dendroica petechia
The Yellow Warbler is active and inquisitive, flitting from branch to branch in search of juicy caterpillars, aphids and beetles. From May through June, its lively courtship song and golden plumage refresh aspen forests. Yellow Warblers are among the most frequent victims of cowbird parasitism. Unlike many bird species of the forest interior, however, Yellow Warblers recognize the foreign eggs and will either abandon the nest or simply build another nest over top of the eggs. Often mistakenly called wild canaries, Yellow Warblers often leave their nesting grounds before the end of July, just after their young have fledged. The scientific name petechia is Latin for 'red spots on the skin.' |
I.D.: Sexes similar: canary yellow body; black bill and eyes; dark green wings and tail. Breeding male: red breast streaks. Breeding female: faint red breast streaks. Size: L 5 in. (13 cm). Range: common migrant and breeder in the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies; common to uncommon summer breeder in the central and southern U.S. Rockies. Habitat: wet shrubby meadows, willow tangles and shrubby avalanche slopes, usually near water, in the montane. Nesting: in a fork in a deciduous tree or small shrub; female builds a compact cup nest of grass, plant down, lichens and spider silk; female incubates 4-5 eggs for 11-12 days. Feeding: gleans foliage and vegetation for invertebrates, especially caterpillars, inch worms, beetles, aphids and cankerworms. Voice: Male: song is a fast, frequently repeated sweet-sweet-sweet I'm so-so sweet. Similar Species: Orange-crowned Warbler: lacks the beady, black eyes; male has red streaks and yellower plumage. American Goldfinch: black wings and tail; male often has a black forehead. Wilson's Warbler: female has a shorter, darker tail and yellower underparts. |
