The Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) is a very pretty little passerine that enjoys gleaning our shrubs and trees for insects. My encounters with these pure yellow fellows has mostly been seeing them high up in the trees, therefore hard to get a great shot. If you see a Yellow Warbler you will know it, for it is the only warbler that is solid, bright yellow with its top and back feathers being mostly a yellow- green color. The mature male songbird is easily noted for the reddish-brown streaks on his chest. Their song is composed of sweet rapid trills . . . no doubt quite thrilling lyrics to their intended mate.
Cowbirds are truly a problem for the Yellow Warbler, though the clever yellow ones have learned of their parasitic ways and now will build a new nest atop a Cowbird egg. I have read that there could be up to six . . . nests upon nests for one Yellow Warbler pair to successfully raise their own young!
Migration is beginning and you lucky southerners may well begin seeing any number of warblers visiting your gardens soon. Thanks to All About Birds for great information, photos and recorded songs!
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