Tag Archives: yellow rumped warbler

Field Notes

Yellow-rumped warblers in NC

By Sally Siko

With spring migration underway in NC, many of our winter resident birds are headed north for the breeding season ahead.
One such species are the Yellow-rumped Warblers.
During the cooler months, these guys are one of the most commonly found birds in central North Carolina. Now that spring is here, male Yellow-rumps have undergone a drastic change in their appearance going from drab brown and white to a striking black, white and yellow combo.
The change means that soon they’ll be heading north to their breeding grounds within a few days so if you’d like to see one dressed in these bold colors, ya gotta get out there ASAP.



While there are sporadic reports of them breeding in the higher elevations in western part of the state each summer, Yellow-rumped Warblers are most commonly found throughout NC from late September through mid May.
They favor areas near ponds, streams and creeks and especially where Wax Myrtle trees are present.
They have a varied diet, feeding on insects, berries, and sometimes even seeds.
You can even entice them to visit your backyard by offering fruit flavored suet and mealworms at your feeders. This versatility helps them survive in different habitats throughout their range throughout the year.
Pretty neat huh?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Spending time with wintertime Yellow-rumped Warblers

By Sally Siko

A sign that winter is here the Yellow-rumped Warblers have returned to North Carolina.
I spotted this beauty last week while birding in the OBX.
While most of our warblers are leaving to spend the winter in warmer locals, Yellow-rumps are here to stay to brighten our days in the season to come.



Known affectionately as “Butter butts” they are dressed in their winter drab plumage of grey with points of yellow on their sides and rump.
Their main diet consists of insects and spiders but when winter arrives (making 6 or 8 legged meals scarce) they have the ability to change their diet to eating berries.
In fact, they are the only type of warbler that can digest the waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles.
This dietary adaptation allows them to survive in locations further north than most other warbler species during the winter which may give them an advantage of a head start when migrating to their breeding grounds in the spring.


Yellow-rumped Warblers are particularly common in our coastal counties as well as in the central part of NC. They are also found in the foothills of the Appalachians in smaller numbers as well.
They usually stick around the Tarheel state until around mid May so you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy these beauties in the months ahead.

Photos & video by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birdwatching News, Field Notes

The Yellow-rumped Warblers have returned to North Carolina

A sight that cooler temperatures are on the way, the Yellow-rumped Warblers have returned to North Carolina.
While most of our warblers are leaving to spend the winter in warmer locals, Yellow-rumps are here to stay to brighten our days in the season to come.



Known affectionately as “Butter butts” they are dressed in their winter drab plumage of grey with points of yellow on their sides and rump.
Their main diet consists of insects and spiders but when winter arrives (making 6 or 8 legged meals scarce) they have the ability to change their diet to eating berries.
In fact, they are the only type of warbler that can digest the waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles.
This dietary adaptation allows them to survive in locations further north than most other warbler species during the winter which may give them an advantage of a head start when migrating to their breeding grounds in the spring.



Yellow-rumped Warblers are particularly common in our coastal counties as well as in the central part of NC. They are also found in the foothills of the Appalachians in smaller numbers as well.
They usually stick around the Tarheel state until around mid May so you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy these beauties in the months ahead.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty @canonusa
#5ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Yellow-rumped Warbler encounter at the Pea Island Life Saving Station

Here’s a cheerful sight on a grey day, the Yellow-rumped Warbler. I spotted this one while on a birding trip at the Pea Island NWR.
These little ones are quite curious about people and flew in close frequently to see what we were all about.



The Yellow-rumped Warbler is a familiar winter visitor to North Carolina. They arrive in the Tarheel state in September and hang out here until mid May before departing to their breeding grounds in New England, the Rockies, Canada and Alaska.
During the cold months, they may be found searching for a meal in open woodlands, marshes and near ponds with a a brushy shoreline.


As is the case with other species of Warblers, Yellow ‘rumps are voracious eaters of insects. In the spring you can see them gleaning and moving through the trees quickly to catch their prey.
In the wintertime when insects are scarce, Yellow-rumped Warblers switch their diet to consuming berries.


In addition, they’re the only species of Warbler that are able to digest Bayberries and Wax Myrtles. This unique dietary adaptation enables them to spend the winter much farther north than other Warblers when more traditional six or eight legged Warbler fare is unavailable due to colder temperatures.
In fact, the easiest way to find a Yellow-rumped Warbler here in NC is to hang out near a Wax Myrtle bush. It usually doesn’t take long for one to show up once the berries are ready!



Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame @canonusa

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Yellow rumped Warbler-Winter birding Tour at Yates Mill Park

I had a wonderful time yesterday morning leading a birding trip at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh N.C.
We found 30 species of birds including the unexpected sighting of a Northern Harrier. (photos coming soon!)
It was absolutely awesome to connect with my fellow bird lovers who adore these feathered gems as much as I do 🙂



One of the highlights of the day was an encounter with this handsome Yellow-rumped Warbler. He put on quite a show, flying in very close to land on a sapling about 4-5 feet away from our vantage point.


At times he would gulp down a dried berry or two and pick at the leaves for a six legged meal, others he simply sat there in the warm sun calmly watching us.



Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of my favorite wintertime birds. They are curious little creatures who are likely to come say hello to ya if you softly pish at them.



Soon the leaves will have fallen from the trees and the landscape will become a study of varying shades of grey and brown.
This means these little birds will have to blend in perfectly with their habitats so during the cooler months, they’re dressed in “drab” winter plumage of soft greys, charcoal, white and yellow.
Their muted color palette aids in camouflaging the birds from predators in the woods and brush. Nevertheless, if you swipe to the last photo in this post, you’ll see why the nickname of “butter butt” fits them nicely all year round lol!
😉

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame @canonusa
#5Ds

Birdwatching News, Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Yates Mill Park Yellow-rumped Warbler

I found aYellow -rumped Warblera few weeks ago perched in a tree at Yates Mill Park during the CBC 2019 in Raleigh, N.C. It was drizzling outside but this pretty little bird did not seem to mind. It obliged me the time to take several pics before flying off to join the rest of the flock.



Between November through March, Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the most common species of warblers found in North Carolina. Unlike other warblers, they can withstand the cold weather and can be found in our state throughout the winter months.
But how can this be? Insect are scarce around here in the wintertime. The answer is their unique digestive system.
Unlike most of their species, Yellow-rumped Warblers are able to digest a wide range of fruits in addition to insects. Bayberry and wax myrtle are favorites along with juniper and dogwood berries.
They also are a familiar sight at backyard feeders, visiting to devour sunflower seeds and suet.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

yellow-rumped Warbler in Englehard, N.C.

Spotted this female Yellow-rumped Warbler in downtown Engelhard N.C. a few weeks ago.
She was rather friendly and didn’t seem to mind my presence as I snapped off a few shots.



A wintertime resident of North Carolina, Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the most widespread and well-known species of warblers in North America.
Lots of of us know them by their aptly nick named “butter-butts,” since their bright yellow rumps are an eye-catching ID characteristic, lol!
In addition to sporting yellow color patches on their sides, adults also have a yellow crown patch, most obvious in adult males and somewhat subdued with females and juveniles.

It’s nice to live someplace where we’ve got a species of wintertime Warbler. Now that most of the leaves have fallen, spotting these little gems is a whole lot easier!
What a marvelous little bird.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatchingnc
Canon 5Ds