By Sally Siko

When birding in the blue ridge mountains of western North Carolina, one of my favorite species to find are the Chestnut sided Warblers.
These energetic little birds are fast movers which prove to be a challenge to photograph even in the best of lighting conditions.
I found this one singing above my head a few weeks ago. Although I’d have preferred to catch a shot or two of him at eye level it was not to be so I’ll settle for these.

In my experience, Chestnuts are affable birds which will allow you to get quite close to them and may even follow you down a trail for a few yards.
The easiest way to locate one is by listening for it’s accented-ending song which is best described as “pleased-pleased-pleased-pleased-ta-MEETCHA.”
Only male Chestnut-sided Warblers sing, although females may occasionally make song-like vocalizations. Nearly all singing is done within the male’s territory, usually from elevated perches in trees.
Fluttering from limb to branch, (often with their tails partly cocked and wings slightly drooped) males sing and forage intermittently, hopping from branch to branch.

Chestnut sided Warblers are found from April through early October in western North Carolina and during migrational periods throughout the rest of the state.
Look (and listen!) for them along the wooded edges of fields, regenerating clearcuts, forest openings, mainly in deciduous saplings and trees.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding