Good question, Channy (in Cincinnati). Yes, it’s true both kinds of feeders may attract a rare to uncommon visit by some wood-warbler species, such as seed eating Yellow-rumped and Pine Warbler. Nectar sometimes coaxes wood-warblers with longer bills such as Cape May, Orange-crowned, and Virginia.

That written, the vast majority of wood-warblers typically abstain from visiting feeders. Most maintain a nearly-total insectivorous diet, so stay away from feeders.

As for suet feeders, I’ve seen the above species at suet, in addition to Townsend’s.

How about you and other readers? You have seen wood-warblers at feeders? Please let me know at DanielEdelstein@att.net

Lastly, my web site — WarblerWatch.com — has more information several bird topics via the “Birding Links” pulldown menu. Information about my birding tours is at the “Birding Tours” area.

Happy Holidays to everyone…!

What’s an example of a “superspecies” in the family?

Thanks for the query, Ms. Jones (in Santa Barbara, CA).

(The Black-Throated Gray Warbler in the above photo is one of five species within the Black-Throated Green superspecies group.)

Think of a superspecies as a group of related species that evolved from a common ancestor, but live in distinct ranges apart from each other. A good example of a superspecies is the Black-Throated Green Warbler group that includes this species as well as Townsend’s, Hermit, Golden-Cheeked, and Black-Throated Gray Warblers.

Each of the latter four species in the above group is thought to have evolved from its Black-Throated Green ancestor. As this species expanded from its southeastern USA deciduous forest territory into coniferous forest created by the most recent glacial advances, isolation occurred among populations. As generations of separated populations slowly spread west and north throughout lower North America, each population became a divergent “island.” Gene flow ceased as reproductive isolation caused speciation to occur over eons. The resulting five species share various field marks, but also express their own unique characteristics.

Nonetheless, despite their status as species, hybridization sometimes occurs among species within a superspecies, including the Black-Throated Green superspecies wherein populations of Townsend’s and Hermit hybridize in Oregon and Washington. To simplify, where both species occur, over time Townsend’s appear to usually dominate and increase in number.

More technical, the five species within the Black-Throated Green superspecies have parapatric distributions. That is to say, each of the five species has ranges that do not significantly overlap but are immediately adjacent to each other (and/or occur together in a narrow contact zone, with the aforementioned reference to Townsend’s and Hermit Warbler hybridization a scenario where overlapping occurs).

To learn more about this subject, read a classic article by R.M. Mengel titled “The probable history of species formation in some northern wood warblers.” One source where this article appears is in a 1964 edition of “Living Bird” (page 943).

Hi Jeremiah….and your query is a periodic question I receive, so I’m glad to help, below.

Here’s the answer to your question, above: I suggest your first move is to check:
http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=all_lists

….as this site a composite list featuring all the listserv sites in California where birders add their bird sightings.

At sialia.com, you’ll see a left column by which you can one-by-one click on a chosen region of California….Upon doing so for one region, you’ll see a list of the latest bird sightings lists posted by birders.

As for common annual and upcoming migration, I am pleased to note that I 
currently have begun to hear the courtship “peek” sound from male Anna’s Hummingbirds (and, actually, since October, 2022). 

During this process, males descend during their courtship dance, air rushing through their tail feathers at the bottom of their elevator drop initiates the “peek” sound.

By December annually, eggs are added to nests in the SF Bay Area, with Great Horned Owl joining the maternity ward by January annually as females incubate eggs or hatch them.

Interestingly, also, the earliest returning Allen’s Hummingbirds may begin returning by next and beyond through February and March to SF Bay Area coastal breeding locations. I expect the initial report of a returning Allen’s Hummingbird to appear at sialia.com by 1/15/23 or soon after.

Other questions? Glad to help: danieledelstein@att.net

Thank you, Alex (in Madison, WI)….”Yes,” I’m lucky to have detected a few: N. Waterthrush, Wilson’s, Yellow, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped.

Interesting to me, though, the latter four on the above list are ALL different subspecies than the ones I detect in N. CA where I live (Marin Co., SF Bay Area).

Curiously, I am surprised by the absence of Blackpoll Warbler to date, given last summer I noticed several, including watching nesting behavior in western-northwestern Alaska adjacent to the Anvik River where I stayed for two weeks.

Last month and now I have primarily enjoyed the Arctic Circle area at Iniakuk Lake (west of Coldfoot by approximately 150 miles). Beyond wood-warblers, the most typical species have been Gray-cheeked Thrush, Wilson’s Snipe, (Gambel’s) White-crowned Sparrow, and, yes, Common Loon.

Misses so far on this trip due to fires that have impeded my travel: Yellow-billed Loon, Bluethroat, and N. Wheatear.

Oh well, next year, I hope….given I return to leading bird tours as soon as I return this week after the 4th of July holiday. I’ll be leading a birder to pursue the CA Condor at Pinnacles National Park, an hour south of San Jose.

Meanwhile, happy birding discoveries….Regards, Daniel, WarblerWatch.com, DanielEdelstein@att.net

Good questions, Benjamin (in Seattle).

You’re not too late, Benjamin, as there’s two solutions to your question:

1. Go to several northern USA states where diverse, abundant BREEDING wood-warbler species occur. I think of Door Co., WI and upper New York state and Maine — all of which host more than 10 species of breeding wood-warblers. To find “hot spot” birding spots that host wood-warblers in the aforementioned locations, go to eBird.org…..Then click on the “hot spots” button and enter the names of the areas you’d like to visit for birding. Then click on the “+” sign when you scroll geographically to your preferred visitation area.
3. Go north (!) Ontario and several other Midwestern and Eastern higher latitudes still host migrating wood-warblers that you can pursue through early June, though, as you intimated with your question, the en masse migration of wood-warblers is largely completed among most of the lower 48 USA states.

A good source beyond eBird to check is birdinghotspots.org

As for next spring from mid-April through the third week of May, here’s some wood-warbler hot spots to consider visiting via the courtesy of http://www.birding.com/top200hotspots.asp

This above link features excellent birding venue options:

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia
33.91 N 84.61 W
The mile-long road to the top of the “mountain” should yield about 20 warbler species in late April. On weekends, you can ride a shuttle bus to the top. Good trails cover most of this park located about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta.

Cape May, NJ
38.56 N 74.57 W
Hawks “funnel” into Cape May each fall, making this the best spot on the East Coast for raptors. Fantastic for warblers and other migrating birds in spring and fall. One of the top 10 spots in North America.

Central Park, New York City
40.47 N 73.58 W
Birds? In New York City? During spring migration, Central Park is a welcomed island of green trees in the middle of a concrete desert. Warblers, Tanagers, Grosbeaks (and maybe a Rock Dove).

Crane Creek/Magee Marsh/Ottawa NWR
41.37 N 83.09 W
Spring migration here may be even better than Point Pelee — and two hours closer if you live in Ohio! Go visit the Oak Openings and Irwin Prairie on the west side of Toledo as well.

Point Pelee
41.56 N 82.31 W
This tip of Ontario extends into Lake Erie, forming a welcome site for migrating birds in May and a natural “funnel” in the fall. Warblers in the spring are everywhere. Watch the flight of Monarch butterflies and huge flocks of Blue Jays in the fall. Considered by most as one of the Top 10 birding spots in North America.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin
43.42 N 89.73 W
Great scenery and a mix of northern and southern birds can be found here. For worm-eating Warbler, try nearby Baxter’s Hollow Preserve. The International Crane Foundation is located just north of here in Baraboo.

*

As for when warbler migration begins during the spring, the range of dates vary by latitude and, often, annually, based on weather patterns.

In general (and to oversimplify), warbler migration begins in Florida in March (and becomes obvious by April) while southern Wisconsin, for example, attracts warblers in abundance by the last week of April (though it more typically peaks in the first or second week of May). Point Pelee (noted above) is often best visited during the initial days of May while upper Michigan usually peaks with warbler activity during the third and fourth weeks of May.

That’s not to say warbler migration is absent prior to March in Florida or prior to May in Wisconsin. Early warbler visitors are present in both areas (e.g., LA Waterthrush in FL; Yellow-rumped and Palm Warbler in WI, among other species).

But, again, in general, warbler migration is best considered an April and May phenomenon in most lower 48 USA states.

Thanks for the question, Mary.

After many years of debate, the AOS (American Ornithological Society) in 2017 moved the yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) to the Icteriidae. It is the only member of this family.

As you may know, this seven-inch songbird was once a member of the New World warbler family (Parulidae)

The reorganization does not end the controversy among researchers. Several still believe blood analysis suggests the chat should remain in the Parulidae.

For your first question, Giselle, the answer:

Not many, Giselle — as only the Swainson’s, Virginia’s, Kentucky, Hermit, Golden-cheeked, and Yellow-throated Warbler have breeding ranges limited to areas within the lower 48 state. Golden-cheeked is restricted to nesting ONLY in Texas, but migrates south during the non-breeding season.

To clarify, the Blackpoll Warbler does not qualify as an endemic nester to the continental U.S. because it breeds extensively in latitudes north (and into Canada and Alaska) among places where it breeds in the northern U.S. and farther north.

(Below photo shows a male Kentucky Warbler.)