Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata

Yellow-rumped Warblers, Setophaga coronata (formerly Dendroica coronata), can be found throughout North America at various times of the year. These migratory birds fly south during the winter and north up through Canada and Alaska during the summer. Their common name comes from the bright yellow rump of both males and females. There are two recognized subspecies: Audubon's Warbler and Myrtle Warbler. They can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous and coniferous forest, brushy thickets, mixed woodlands, bogs, dunes, and parks. Yellow-rumped Warblers are monogamous and may raise two broods each season. While they mainly forage for insects, they consume nuts and berries in autumn. They are the only warbler able to digest waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles allowing migration further north.