The First Brightly Colored Warblers Incoming

The first spring migrant warblers have been reported from a couple of locations in the southern part of Mecklenburg County. A singing yellow-throated warbler was at Four-mile Creek Greenway, and a Northern parula warbler was at Six-mile Creek Greenway. Both were found yesterday. About a week ago the first black-and-white warbler was at McDowell Nature Preserve.

Birders look forward to the first warblers' arrivals; they are generally in full plumage splendor and in full song.

Northern Parula by Ron Clark

 Northern Parulas are tiny treetop warblers with persistent buzzy songs. They are fairly common in bottomland forests.

Yellow-throated Warbler by Ron Clark

Listen for the musical song of this wetland warbler along the Catawba River and major creeks in the county. you will be lucky to get a look at them in their pine and sycamore treetop haunts.

Black-and-White Warbler by Ron Clark

The black and white warbler probes crevices in tree trunks and major limbs. In nuthatch-like fashion they creep along the woody sections of trees, generally ignoring the leafy outer limbs where most arboreal warblers forage.