A Bouquet Of Warblers

Written By: William McReynolds - Highlands Plateau Audubon Society | Issue: 2018/05 - May | Photograph By: Megumi Aita

The phrase “the merry month of May” has appeared in the title of a contemporary novel, a 17th-century poem, a film from the 1950s, the title of a regimental march, and a song from a German operetta.  Part of the May merriment locally is the return to Western North Carolina of the migratory Warblers.  

This large family of perching birds is noted for their small size, colorful plumage, and vociferous song.  The 56 species of Warblers in North America are found only in the New World and are not closely related to localized Warblers elsewhere in Europe, Australia, and other continents.  Within the North American family, males sport splashes of vivid yellow, blue, red, and green, and the females tend to be drab olive.  The male’s striking coloration helps him defend his territory and protect his mate with whom he might have two broods in one season.  His bright plumage also signals to the female that he is mature and worth her attention. 

Warblers are insectivores who hunt on the branches, trunks, and leaves for bugs and worms.  They are more easily heard than seen.  Occupying their niche in the forest, they are in constant motion − twitting, flitting, and hopping about.  The various species − Black and White, Hooded, Black-Throated Green, Chestnut-Sided, and Northern Parula −  are fairly abundant in our woodlands in the spring and summer and are best sighted with patience and binoculars.  A flock of Warblers has been called collectively a “bouquet”
of Warblers.

The Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) pictured above is one of our loveliest summer residents.  They live low in the forest, in the understory of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees.  Look in bushes and lower branches.  Let his song give him away.

The internet contains useful vocal recordings of the Black-Throated Blue, which is a good place to start if you’re searching for this bird.  Birders and ornithologists are at their best when typifying or imitating bird calls.  Sibley describes the male’s song to be “a husky but musical buzz, lazy and drawling…harsh, slow, rising buzz: “zheew zheew zheeeee” or “zo zo zo zo zo zo zo zeee.” 

Merry May and happy birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them.  HPAS is a 501 (c) (3) organization, a chapter of the National Audubon Society.  Visit www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org for information on membership and all activities.