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Bird Identification

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dendroica coronata Length: 5.5"

Look For

Well-named for its most obvious field mark, the Yellow-rumped Warbler changes from its bold black, white, and yellow breeding plumage to a drab streaky-brown in non-breeding (fall and winter) plumage. Older field guides (and many birders) refer to this species as the Myrtle Warbler (eastern form) and the Audubon’s Warbler (western form). Both forms share the yellow rump and white tail patches but the Audubon’s has a yellow throat in all seasons and the Myrtle has a white throat.

Listen For

Song is a weak trill, usually trailing off toward the end and dropping in tone: Tee-tee-tee-brr-brrbrr! The call note, a loud tchep! is often a better clue, year-round, to the presence of this species. If you learn the call note, you will rarely miss noticing this species.

Find it:

Yellow-rumped Warblers spend summers in the northern coniferous forests and at higher elevations in eastern and western mountains. But they are more regularly seen in migration (early in spring, late in fall) continentwide. Large concentrations may form in fall, especially in coastal areas. They are very active birds, flitting from tree to tree flashing their yellow rump patches as they move.

Remember

Cape May and Magnolia Warblers also have yellowish rumps, but not so obvious as the "butter butt" on the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Wow!

Yellow-rumped Warblers are hardy birds, adapted to live on berries (especially wax myrtle fruits) when cold weather makes insects scarce as a food item.

This profile is an excerpt from The Young Birder's Guide by Bill Thompson, III. Purchase an autographed copy from our nature store, and check out other BWD titles designed to help you identify backyard birds.

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