Bulletin 217 - Best of 10 years - #2 - warblers

There are 55 species of new world warblers in Sibley's birding guide, so selecting a dozen is a challenge, but here are my picks for the best of my first 10 years. I thought I would do them now with spring migration just around the corner.

The rarest bird in North America is the critically endangered Kirtland's Warbler. There are just several hundred pairs in the Jack Pine forests of northern Michigan. In the summer of 2013, I went there and took a tour into an area where they occur. They are easy to see as the males perch on top of the 6-8 foot trees to sing.

Kirtland's Warbler

The Connecticut Warbler is also a bird that we in Texas have to travel to see, as it migrates through Florida. I saw it on the same trip to Michigan. The gray hood and large white eye ring ID this warbler.

Connecticut Warbler

The Mourning Warbler was also seen on the Michigan trip. It can be found on the upper Texas coast both spring and fall, but is rare. The male is IDed by the gray hood, black breast band and no eye ring.

Mourning Warbler

There are 2 warblers in North America that occur only in Texas. Birders from Canada and the USA have to make a trip to Texas to see these ones. The endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler breeds only in the Hill Country of Texas. The male is IDed by the yellow face, black throat and black line through the eye.

Golden-cheeked Warbler

The Colima Warbler breeds in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park in west Texas. This is probably the most difficult bird I have photographed, as it took a whole day to hike up the trail to where they breed in the mountains. It is IDed by all gray color, yellow under the tail and the prominent eye ring.

Colima Warbler

Most warblers have some yellow coloration. However, this cute Red-faced Warbler from southeast Arizona, is gray with a red face and black hat.

Red-faced Warbler

The male Black-throated Blue Warbler has a blue back, black throat and prominent white wing patch. It is seen occasionally in spring and fall in southeast Texas.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

The last group are commonly seen during spring migration on the upper Texas coast. The dazzling male Blackburnian Warbler is my favorite.

Blackburnian Warbler

Another orange and black warbler is the male American Redstart.

American Redstart

The Yellow-throated Warbler is a common bird in the early spring. However, it was a nemesis bird for me to photograph. I finally got a photograph in 2010. It is IDed by the black and white overall color and bright yellow throat.

Yellow-throated Warbler

The male Bay-breasted Warbler  is striking with his rusty cap and flanks.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2015 David McDonald

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Bulletin 160 - AZ birds and wildlife

We found several warblers in Arizona. The first shown here is the Red-faced Warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons). This unique bird has a gray back, white breast, red face and black hood. The sexes are similar.

Red-faced Warbler

The Olive Warbler (Peucedramus taeniatus) was formerly in the same family as the wood warblers, but DNA has shown it to be unique. It has since been put in its own family. This bird is gray with 2 white wing bars. The head is yellow with a black ear patch. This is the female or immature male plumage. The adult male has orange instead of the yellow.

Olive Warbler - female or immature male

We saw several Painted Redstarts (Myioborus pictus). Neither of us were able to get a decent photo. However, what we did see was a nest of this bird. They nest on the ground and we were able to see the babies in the grassy nest.

Painted Redstart - nest with babies

Other wildlife we saw on this trip were several squirrels, pronghorn and several lizards. The Arizona Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) is a typical large bushy tailed squirrel.

Arizona Gray Squirrel

The Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister) is a large (8-12") lizard seen on the ground or climbing in trees.

Desert Spiny Lizard

Thanks again to our guide Melody Kehl for finding the birds and IDing the other wildlife.

Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask to subscribe.