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Photo by Terry Lutz |
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Warblers, with their brilliantly colored feathers, are the tiny jewels of Ohio's bird families. They are very active -- constantly flittering around. Most are yellow with black-and-white markings. Their plumage varies considerably from spring to fall, juvenile to adult, and male to female. The tail is square, often with white markings. Warblers feed almost entirely on insects gleaned from leaves and twigs with their slender bills. Members of this family abound in any Ohio woodland or brushy area during the spring and fall migration seasons. In spring their buzzlike songs (not warbling) fill the air with a delightful chorus.
Listen
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Northern Parula
Parula americana
At-a-Glance
• Incubation: 12-14 days
• Clutch Size: 3-7 eggs
• Typical Foods: insects
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Description
The Northern parula is our smallest warbler. It is blue above, with a yellow-green patch on its back. The throat and breast are yellow and the belly is white. Males have orange-brown chest bands.
Habitat and Habits
Peak numbers occur in hemlock gorges, but it also nests in mature streamside forests of other types. Parulas deliver a loud, ascending buzzy trill that ends with an abrupt zap! They are most common in the southern quarter of Ohio, but migrants are fairly common statewide.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Nests are basket-shaped and made of grass, bark, and other vegetation. |
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