365 Urban Species. #131: Black-and-white Warbler

[urbpan]

Photo by cottonmanifesto

Urban species #131: Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia

One of the great things about Boston is that it sits right in the path of a major bird migration route. Another great thing is our world-class city parks. Take these two things together, and the city of Boston can be a very good place for birding. Every May is warbler season, and hundreds of these tiny, insect-eating birds can be seen as they pass through. The most commonly seen warblers in Boston are the yellow, the yellow-rumped, and the black-and-white.

The black-and-white warbler is notable for its color pattern--as its name suggests--often warblers are some combination of olive and yellow hues. It's also unusual for its feeding method. While most warblers feed at the ends of branches, picking caterpillars from the developing buds of trees, the black-and-white clings to the larger parts of branches and trunks, creeping for insects in a foraging style similar to the nuthatch and the brown creeper. For some black-and-white warblers, the Boston area is their summer destination, but the majority continue on to breeding grounds to the north.

Comments

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Definately one of my favorite birds. They're extremely captivating to watch.

[cailin-t.livejournal.com]

i love the little squeaky wheels. :P

[anais2.livejournal.com]

What a neat little bird- I don't think I've ever seen one!