Both Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers will visit birdfeeding stations
This is the time of year when the warblers are a sea of yellow and gray around here. The two most prolific of these birds at my place are the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) and the Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus).
The Butterbutt
A common name for the Yellow-rumped Warbler is butterbutt and it is easy to see why.
The diet of the Yellow-rumped Warbler consists of mostly insects including caterpillars and other insect larvae, beetles, weevils, ants, scale, aphids, grasshoppers, caddisflies, craneflies, and gnats, as well as spiders. Quite a menu variety. They also eat spruce budworm, a serious forest pest concern.
This Yellow-rumped Warbler was reaching up for some treat in a groundsel bush
It’s interesting to watch the Yellow-rumped Warbler feed. They flutter and catch insects on the wing and they also flutter next to tall grasses to snag seeds. It reminds me of how a hummingbird hovers.
Yellow-rumped Warblers enjoy fruits, particularly bayberry a.k.a. wax myrtle, which “their digestive systems are uniquely suited among warblers to digest”. This gives them a greater northern winter range. This shrub is the most prolific in my garden.
Add a female wax myrtle and the yellow-rumped warblers are sure to flock to your place
Other commonly eaten fruits and seed include:
| Type |
In my garden |
|
| Juniper berries | √ | Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) |
| Poison ivy | √ | Toxicodendron radicans |
| Poison oak | ||
| Greenbrier | √ | Smilax spp. |
| Grapes | √ | Vitis spp. |
| Virginia creeper | √ | Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
| Dogwood | ||
| Seeds from grasses | √ | Bluestem (Andropogon spp.) |
| Goldenrod seeds | √ | Solidago spp. |
This probably explains their vast numbers at my place. They will use feeders but nutrition from actual plants is a better choice since the food isn’t chemically treated to control insect pests during production.
I set up natural foods at the feeding station via a wreath created from the spent seedheads of native plants and the Pine Warblers come calling
When I added the red cedar I hoped that the Yellow-rumped warblers, who build nests in conifers, would be enticed. They build with twigs, rootlets and grass, lined with hair and feathers. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that in my area they are non-breeding winter residents. Still, the cedar will feed them and many other bird species make use of this pretty native tree. I’ll just have to hope that someone in their breeding range will share their encounter details.
One thing I noticed is that the colors of “my butterbutts” aren’t as vivid as some shown on birding websites where they can have sharp black markings. Apparently during the winter they are a little more drab, but they will always have that bright yellow tail thing going which they flash often when standing still, spying for insects.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler’s colors can be a little drab in wintertime
The Butterhead
Pine Warbler
Ok, the Pine Warbler isn’t called a Butterhead; I’m just making that up. They are pudgy birds and they do have bright yellow HEADS, so if the yellow RUMPED warbler…well, you get my drift.
The Pine Warblers are a little pudgy
Aptly named since they spend much of their time in the pine trees, they also come down to find insects in the grasses and they do enjoy seed, and among warblers they are notorious seed eaters…especially pine.
This week the Pine Warblers are especially fond of the bidens alba seeds
Recently they have been spending a lot of time in the dead parts of the Spanish Needles (Bidens alba) munching away on the spent seeds. Still, they mostly eat caterpillars and other insects including beetles, grasshoppers, ants, bees, flies, cockroach eggs, and spiders. Again, they will readily come to feeders, but natural foods are a better source of nutrition than commercial birdseed.
They get along with other birds such as this blue jay in the oak
These birds nest high atop pine trees. I’ve yet to see an actual nest but I do take out the field glasses and scan the trees during nesting season since I am hopeful that they will nest, given the amount of time they spend around my garden which has those tall pines. I’m still not clear how any type of nest could stay up in a pine since they sway so much in the wind. These birds must have access to super glue.
Pine Warblers like to hunt for insects in wood and brush piles
The Pine warbler is quite melodious and I get so much enjoyment hearing them from high in the treetops. A bird that is fun to watch, beautiful and worth setting up habitat for.
© 2013, Loret T. Setters. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Loret T. Setters
How interesting: “Yellow-rumped Warblers enjoy fruits, particularly bayberry a.k.a. wax myrtle, which “their digestive systems are uniquely suited among warblers to digest” Lucky guys~
And good point for all birds, “They will use feeders but nutrition from actual plants is a better choice since the food isn’t chemically treated to control insect pests during production.
Thanks for sharing your bird garden, Loret~
Kathy Vilim recently posted..West Coast Monarchs are Over Wintering Happily
Thanks Kathy!
It is said that because butterbutts can eat the bayberries they are able to winter further north than others.
Loret recently posted..Birds: and what a week it was
I’m so jealous that you’ve got two different types of warblers right now! I do sometimes see your “Butterbutt” here in the winter, usually along the Jersey Shore eating the Bayberry fruits. But as for the Pine Warbler, I usually only see that during Spring migration. What a gift to have these cheery birds in your winter wildlife garden
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..The Traveling Birder
Everything is relative, Carole. Come August there really isn’t much going on in the song bird department down here so I’ll be jealous of your summer garden
Loret recently posted..Birds: and what a week it was
Have you seen any buttheads?
Those butterbutts are flighty (as you note) and hard to photograph.. I’ve yet to get an acceptable shot.. good job! I didn’t know they were great insect eaters as they stay here thru’ the winter.. eating bayberry (myrtle) on the dunes..now ruined by Sandy..I hope they migrated to you! Thanks for the fun & info!
Thanks Cindy!
There does seem to be more butterbutts this year than in the past, so perhaps I do have the Sandy displaced migrators. The bayberry access does allow them to stay further north than a lot of other birds.
Loret recently posted..Birds: and what a week it was
We saw bluebirds hanging around the garden and chickadees and woodpeckers are at the suet feeders…even with all the snow and cold I enjoyed seeing the birds as they are so scarce right now….love your warblers.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Wildflower Tales-Virginia Bluebell
Thanks Donna,
received a note from my sister indicating jealousy at my having so many birds in January. Apparently Glens Falls isn’t very active, but spring will be here for you guys soon!
Loret recently posted..Birds: and what a week it was
Warblers! I love warblers. I don’t see them during the winter. I did have some yellow-rumped warblers pass through during migration. It’s always a joy to see them flitting about the garden. I love your natural feeding station!
Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern recently posted..What’s Growing: 2013 Plan Gone to Seed