Yellow-rumped Warblers at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 9, 2019

One of my birding stops today was Wehr Nature Center. I was hoping to see the start of the Yellow-rumped Warbers migrating through the area, also known as “Butter butts”. My timing was right, it was the start, only a couple of birds of that species were present, but it was very exciting! It was nice to see them as bigger things to come was on the horizon with warbler species. There were the most ever seen by me at one location, Golden-crowned Kinglets. The trees were loaded with them feeding heavily, they never stop! The Yellow-rumped warblers, only a couple present, were also busy eating gnats non-stop. My other stops along the lakefront in Milwaukee were very quiet for birds. It was a beautiful morning out with temps around 60, a little wind, but mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on April 9, 2019.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

A short flight to a gnat…

Around the tree looks a Yellow-rumped Warbler…

Looking for a gnat…

Another short flight to a gnat…

Looking …

Looking for the next gnat…and giving nice looks…

Going for a gnat…

Looking at me…

Golden-crowned Kinglet…

Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Waukesha Fox River Sanctuary April 8, 2014.

I spent a short time down at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha today and observed my 1st Yellow-rumped Warblers of the season. There were 3 present and they were hopping around in the trees eating what appeared to be small insects. I also enjoyed watching 2 different Black-capped Chickadees and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker excavating nest cavities in dead trees while I was there. The sun felt nice, but it was chilly when it clouded over with the steady breeze.

Yellow-rumped Warbler April 8, 2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler April 8, 2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Binomial name: Setophaga coronata

Category: Wood-Warblers

Size: 5.50” long, 9.25” wingspan

Weight: .43 oz.

Habitat: Open coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous woodlands and edges.

Diet: Insects are their main diet, but depend on berries when insects are not available.

Nesting: The small shallow cup nest is built on a horizontal branch of a tree any where from 4’to50’ from the ground. The nest is constructed of grass, twigs, rootlets, with a inter lining of feathers with plant fluff that drapes over the edge of the top of the nest and partially covers the eggs. Female sits on 3-6 eggs that are white and incubates them for about 12-13 days.

Notes: The Yellow-rumped Warbler is known for one of the earliest warblers to arrive in spring and one of the last to leave in fall.

Yellow-rumped Warbler April 8, 2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler April 8, 2014

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Black-capped Chickadee excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Red-bellied Woodpecker excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Red-bellied Woodpecker excavating a nest hole in a dead tree.

Just looking around!

Just looking around!

Just looking around!

Just looking around!

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler - image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warbler – image taken in SE Wisconsin pre-2014

Yellow-rumped Warblers and Cedar Waxwings Sharing Berries

Yellow-rumped Warblers and Cedar Waxwings sharing the berries of a cedar tree in Waukesha County.  Photographs taken October 19, 2013.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Binomial name: Setophaga coronata

Category: Wood-Warblers

Description: Both males and females have gray streaks, white on wings, and yellow rumps.  Males have black streaking on slate blue backs while females also have brown steaks.  Both have black bills and legs.

Size: 4.7″-5.9″ long, 7.5” – 9.4” wingspan

Weight: 0.39 oz. – 0.49 oz.

Habitat: Broadleaf and pine forests, mountains

Diet: Insects such as beetles, ants, aphids, grasshoppers, and spiders, as well as berries, fruits, and seeds

Nesting: The female builds the nest on a conifer branch out of grass, pine needles, twigs, and feathers. The male may help supply materials.  The clutch size is 1 to 6 eggs, usually 3 or 4, with 1 to 2 broods laid per season.  The female incubates the eggs for 12 or 13 days and the young can fledge after 10 to 14 days.

Notes: Four related species are often lumped together as the Yellow-rumped Warbler: Myrtle Warbler, Audobon’s Warbler, Mexican black-fronted Warbler, and Guatemalan Goldman’s Warbler.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler

Cedar Waxwing

Binomial name: Bombycilla cedrorum

Category: Waxwings

Description: Pale brown on and chest with gray wings and tail.  Pale yellow belly with and a bright yellow tip on the tail.  Black mask on the face outlined in white and red drops on wings.  Black bill and legs.

Size: 5.5” – 6.7” long, 8.7” – 11.8” wingspan

Weight: 1.1 oz.

Habitat: Open woodlands, orchards, and residences, particularly locations with fruit and berry sources

Diet: Berries, fruits, insects, and cedar cones

Nesting: The courtship ritual involves the male doing a “hopping” dance.  If a female is interested, she’ll “hop” back.  Mating couples will pass small objects between each other such as flowers or food and may rub bills affectionately.  Females handle most of the nest-building using twigs, grass, feathers, and animal hair.  4 to 6 eggs will be laid per clutch with 1 to 2 broods per season, and the female incubates them for 11 to 13 days.  Both parents will care for the young.

Notes: Unlike most birds, the Cedar Waxwing specializes in eating fruit.  Instead of separating and regurgitating seeds from fruit and berries as most birds do, Cedar Waxwings will pass them.  Occasionally if fruit has become overripe, Cedar Waxwings may ingest too much and become intoxicated or even die.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

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