Warblers of Southern Arizona: Yellow Rumped Warbler

Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: Streaked breast, flanks, and back; white under eye arc; yellow crown patch, rump, and shoulders; yellow throat in audubon's and white throat in myrtle's; large tail with white spots and black edges;

Frequency: abundant

Season: year round with greater numbers in winter

Range: throughout North America

Habitat:

Mid Tree

Open coniferous forests and forest edges

Often found in municipal parks where berries are present

Nests: 

Cup of twigs, pine needles, and grasses lined with hair and feathers; nests take about ten days to build; 3 to 4 inches wide and two inches high; placed on horizontal branches of conifers (hemlock, spruce, white cedar, pine, Douglas-fir); only occasionally in a deciduous tree; nest can be anywhere from 4 to 50 feet off the ground;

Feeding Behavior:

Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch

Hawking: perched bird takes prey from air, similar to flycatchers

Diet more insects in summer and berries in winter

Males forage higher in trees than females

General Behavior:

Hovering

Very active; constant movement

Often travel in flocks

Where to Find: Municipal parks; lowland streams and riparian areas; all Madrean Ski Island mountains;

Chance of Finding: 90% in fall, winter, and spring; 60% in summer;

displaying yellow rump

eating berries

in pines

in cattails

taking sap from tree

showing streaking

breeding coloration

audubon's

myrtle

bathing