For the Birds: Wilson’s Warbler - the other yellow bird with a black cap

Wilson's Warbler.  Photo by Christine Southwick.

By Christine Southwick

There are two yellow birds with black caps that are seen in this area during the summertime. 

Our state bird, the American Goldfinch is one; the other is the Wilson’s Warbler.

The Wilson’s is a small songbird with a bill designed to catch bugs, and has olive green wings with no wing bars. It moves through wet dense vegetation foraging for insects, twitching its tail and singing its song. I usually hear a Wilson’s before I see it.

Here in the Puget Sound area, both the female and the male have black caps that sit back on their head a bit. Their lores [the space above their nose] are the same bright yellow as the rest of their face. Their eyes are black and are a good visual clue. The sub-species here is a brighter yellow than in the east; sometimes the face is almost neon yellow.

Wilson's Warbler. Photo by Doug Parrott.

The Wilson’s is often solitary, and you will usually only see one by itself; with one other Wilson’s; or while it is waiting its turn around a bird bath.

Wilson’s forage low in bushes and trees, but rarely on the ground. They will also fly out and catch bugs on the wing, which is called “flycatching”.

The Wilson’s females build their nests on or near the ground during May thru August, so it is important to keep dogs on leashes and cats indoors during breeding season for these birds and for all ground birds. Wait until about Labor Day to clear brush and high grasses.

Only the female broods the 2-7 eggs, but both parents feed their young for up to 25 days after they have left the nest.

The Wilson’s Warbler has seen a dramatic decline in population in Washington since 1980 mainly due to destruction of their preferred habitat in the Northwest: river and creek-side brushy areas. Pesticides have also greatly affected their numbers, both by direct exposure; eating of tainted bugs, and diminished food supply.

Wilson's Warbler. Photo by Christine Southwick.

Because Wilson’s eat only insects, and occasionally berries, you won’t find a Wilson’s at your feeder. If you want to see these fun little birds, plant or keep dense bushes and trees, and set up running water: a dripping or recycling fountain or stream, or maybe just a misting attachment on your hose.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she's sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.