By Eliana Patt
Photos by Anastasia Kuzmina
For those of us in Central Texas, the herald of spring is a one-two-three-ZEET-four and a flash of yellow, black, and white. As popular as the charming and threatened Golden-Cheeked Warbler is, however, it’s not the only member of its genus. Therefore, as much as I love them, this week’s spotlight is a different high-profile Septophaga warbler, whose bright colors have charmed birdwatchers the world over.
Septophaga fusca is currently named for 18th-century English botanist Anna Blackburne. While the common name of the species is likely to change in coming years in order to better reflect its characteristics or ecology, the current name stands as Blackburnian Warbler.
Generally speaking, Blackburnian Warblers don’t spend a long time in Travis County. Like most spring warblers, they blow through Central Texas in the midst of their travels from South America, stopping over for a brief period anywhere between late April and early June. This species can also be seen during fall, though this can make identification difficult: in the fall, male Blackburnian Warblers aren’t glowing orange.
For birds that aren’t males in breeding plumage, Blackburnian Warblers can be distinguished by their dark triangular ear patch and yellow eyebrow, though they may be confused with other Septophaga warblers such as Blackpolls or Cape Mays. Breeding males are relatively easy to distinguish from other spring warblers as long as their bright orange head and breast are visible.
Like most migratory birds, Blackburnian Warblers face a number of threats on their journeys north. Outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds per year in the United States, and their impacts aren’t alone. Blackburnian Warblers must also navigate habitat degradation, diseases like avian influenza, and other hurdles such as window collisions, which the Smithsonian estimates cause the deaths of anywhere between 365 million and a billion American birds per year.
Fortunately, these deaths can be reduced. Items like screens or exterior decals can help keep birds from impacting glass, and turning lights out at night during migration can serve to prevent confusion in migratory flocks. The Wild Bird Feeding Institute recommends taking down feeders for those who have wild waterfowl visiting their backyard, and those whose counties have recorded cases of HPAI. For cats, it’s best to keep our furry friends inside or in a catio, where they can look, but not touch.
Blackburnian Warblers are one of the most striking heralds of spring here in North America, a member of Septophaga that demands attention wherever they go. Here in Travis County, a lucky birdwatcher might catch sight of one at Mills Pond, a popular warbler stopover point in spring migration. However, in Texas, Blackburnian Warblers are best seen High Island in Galveston, where their appearance at Houston Audubon preserves can be best compared to gems scattered in the canopy by a generous hand.
Good luck to those of y’all looking to find these striking birds, and make sure to have fun out there! Now that spring migration is underway, be sure to check out Cornell Lab’s tool BirdCast to get an idea of when we might be seeing some particularly impressive migrations.
Feature photo: Blackburnian Warbler – Septophaga fusca by Anastasia Kuzmina
Sources Used:
American Bird Conservancy | Outdoor Cats: Single Greatest Source of Human-Caused Mortality for Birds and Mammals, Says New Study
Connecticut Audubon Society | Fire Throat: Blackburnian Warbler
Cornell Lab’s All About Birds | Blackburnian Warbler
National Audubon Society | Simple Solutions to Prevent Collisions
Wild Bird Feeding Institute | Avian Flu Wild Birds Updates