A Wave of Warblers in Connecticut

Every year brings new challenges and opportunities for birders. Lifers, lists, photos, adventures, and even competition are what changed birdwatching to Birding! and what re-invigorates us for the New Year.  In 2020 we really needed it and there was a bright spot for Connecticut birders: it was a good warbler year.  36 of the 39 parulid species ever recorded for our state (54 warbler species are currently on the US list) were found here in 2020, including one new species for the state.  We missed only Hermit Warbler (two records, one hypothetical), MacGillivray’s Warbler (two records), and Black-throated Gray Warbler (eight records, one hypothetical).  And several of the rare visitors were quite cooperative, entertaining many birders.  

I was able to photograph 32 of these species in-state this year, missing only Connecticut Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Prothonotory Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler.  

Among the first of 2020’s wood warblers was a real surprise: the first ever Connecticut record of a Townsend’s Warbler, found by Paul Desjardins at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford in early April.  Amazingly enough, a second Townsend’s Warbler was found by John Oshlick in late October; my facetious speculation that it could be the same bird did not find any traction with experts.

 

Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi): A western warbler species normally limited to territory west of the great plains and nesting in the far northwestern US and northwestern Canada into Alaska.  Closely related to our familiar Black-throated Green Warbler, with which it has been known to hybridize.

May brought the usual flush of migrant and nesting warblers to Connecticut, along with a couple of southern strays that occasionally show up here:  Yellow-throated Warbler and Kentucky Warbler.  

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica):  A southern species that occasionally overshoots its migration route and lands in Connecticut, this bird hung around Mondo Ponds in Milford long enough for many birders to get views and photos. 

Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa):  A few were reported around Connecticut, but one at Bent of the River Sanctuary in Southbury was particularly cooperative with birders and photographers as it valiantly,  but vainly, sang to attract a mate for at least three weeks.  This southern warbler is a more or less regular visitor and has nested occasionally in the state.  Maybe global warming will turn it into a regular breeder.

Other Spring migrants gleaned insects from freshly leafed trees:  Blackpoll, Magnolia, Cape May, Wilson’s, Tennessee, and Mourning Warblers.  

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) – male: One of the late migrants through Connecticut in Spring, males are only confusable with Black-capped Chickadees or Black-and-White Warblers.

Blackpoll Warbler – female:  Female and first year Blackpolls are among those “confusing fall warblers” that Roger Tory Peterson warned us about, along with Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers.  Even in Spring, the drab female requires a close look for ID.

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia): “Maggies” are readily identified in any plumage stage, including this probable first year female, by the distinct white under-tail with a broad black tip.

Cape May Warbler  (Setophaga tigrina):  With an orange face and a single white wing patch, male Cape Mays are readily distinguished from other migrants; females are a little tougher but share the pattern of facial markings with the males.

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla):  One of the most widespread warblers, Wilson’s primarily migrate up and down the western US and Canada, so they are not abundant here.  East Rock Park in New Haven is a prime warbler hot spot for finding this species.

Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrine):  Not one of the boldly colorful warblers, but beautiful in its own right.

Mourning Warbler  (Geothlypis Philadelphia): In Connecticut, Mourning Warblers are more common in Spring migration than Fall, so birders, especially year-listers, jump at the relatively few Spring occurrences. 

Some – including Blackburnian, Cerulean, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Pine, and Worm-eating Warblers – stayed to raise families here.

 

Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea):  Famously reliable along River Road in Kent, but usually high enough in the canopy to cause “warbler-neck”.

 

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens):  With a song very similar to the Cerulean Warbler, and usually high out of sight in the canopy, this species takes a little work to identify.  Found in mature deciduous forest with a dense shrub floor.

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens): A species of the pine and hemlock groves more common in northern Connecticut.

Blackburnian Warbler  (Setophaga fusca):  Another high-in-the-pine-canopy, “warbler-neck” inflicting bird, but well worth the effort with its stunning black and orange Halloween plumage.  Its song is also an early indicator of aging hearing as the extremely high-pitched tail end of its song disappears to some older listeners.

Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus):  Another evergreen specialist, although during migration they feed throughout the understory as well.

Nesting season kept birds and birders busy, and warblers highlighted many birding adventures with song, nest-building, and chick-feeding activities.  Common Yellowthroats; Ovenbirds; Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes; Hooded and Chestnut-sided Warblers; Blue-winged and Prairie Warblers; Black-throated Blue Warblers.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas):  Living up to its name, this species can be found almost everywhere, especially near swamps and wet areas.

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla):  Both Waterthrushes nest in Connecticut, Louisiana being the more common along active woodland streams, while Northern choose quiet shallow pools hidden in the woods.  Louisiana shows a whiter, more tapered eyebrow line than the Northern.

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina): Another woodland species, usually near wet areas, notable for its loud ringing song.

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum):  Near the northern limit of their breeding range in Connecticut, this species is a secretive denizen of the deep woods with a song easily confused with Pine Warblers and Chipping Sparrows.

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla):  Ovenbirds prefer extensive wooded areas and where they are numerous their loud “teacher, teacher” song can be distracting when you are straining to hear a Worm-eating Warbler.  Easily confused with one of the woodlands thrushes at first glance, but look for the orange crown.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) Another common woodlands warbler, with a confusing variety of songs, the American Redstart is almost startling when it flashes past.

Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis):  Most readily found at the northern edge of Connecticut; somewhat secretive but identifiable by its unique jumbled song - chip chippity swee ditchery someone described it.

Three warbler species share a preferred habitat and are relatively easy to find in early succession meadows and edges of open areas: Chestnut-sided, Blue-winged, and Prairie Warblers.

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica):  Proudly territorial along power lines and woodland edges, this species shows off a coat of many colors.

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera):  Very likely the main cause for the decline of Golden-winged Warblers due to hybridization, but still a welcome bird on summer walks through old fields, “bee-buzzing” to advertise its presence.

Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor):  Near the northern limit of its breeding range, Prairie Warblers depend on shrubby old fields, which are becoming rarer in Connecticut as the forest regenerates and development encroaches.

Fall brought the expected waves of Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, along with Black-and-White Warblers, Nashville Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Northern Parulas, and a few Orange-crowned Warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata):  The eastern race, once called Myrtle Warbler, is now considered conspecific with the “Audubon’s” western subspecies which has a yellow, not white, throat.

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum):  A relatively drab warbler but active and hard to miss as they fatten up on Connecticut invertebrates for migration.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia): A flash of sun found almost everywhere,                                         but really abundant in open marshy areas, like Little Pond at White Memorial.  One of the most widespread of all the warblers.

Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia):  A common woodland nesting species in Connecticut, their numbers multiply as migrants pass through.

Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla):  A demure wood warbler of the north woods that nests sparsely in Connecticut but is easy to see during migration periods.

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana):  Another more northern breeder, but easy enough to find in Connecticut during migration Spring and Fall.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata):  My last warbler photographed in 2020. Widespread across North America, but scarce enough here as most migrate to the west of New England; they pop up here through the fall and winter, usually along the coast.

Birds highlight every year for birders, and wood warblers – one of the most diverse and colorful avian families – provide a sparkle that make even an awful year a little brighter.

 

All photos from Connecticut in 2020, © C.S. Wood

More warbler photos available here:  CSWoodWarblerPhotos

 

Suggested references:

 

Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home

 

The Sibley Guide to the Birds of North America (Sibley, David). Knopf; 2nd edition (March 11, 2014)

 

The Warbler Guide (Stephenson, Tom and Scott Whittle). Princeton University Press 2014.