Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

This plump-bodied warbler has a wider range than any other North American warbler, nesting from Canada to Mexico and from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts.

A habitat generalist, like many warblers, it feeds harmful leaf-eating caterpillars to its nestlings.

Here's the really interesting part about this bird...

When a cowbird invades and lays eggs in this warbler's nest, the female builds a roof over all of the eggs, both hers and the brood parasite's, and often lays a new set on the 'new' nest floor.  As many as six stories have been found in a single nest, each floor containing entombed cowbird eggs...this according to Fred J. Alsopp, in his DK Birds of Canada Field Guide....fascinating!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder