Chestnut-sided Warbler
Setophaga pensylvanica
Content and photos by James Giroux
As mentioned in previous Bird of the Week articles, I live in Southwest Austin on a greenbelt, and I get a pretty good sampling of migrants in my yard during this time of year. My yardlist boasts over 20 species of warblers over the last 20 years. Among the five most common of those warblers is the Chestnut-sided. Unlike many warblers that are precisely “painted”, the Chestnut-sided is a splotchy collection of color – more like an abstract painting. It’s the Jackson Pollock of warblers. A smear of chestnut color on the flanks, a hint of green on the black-and-white back, a smudge of black on the face, all topped off by a yellow crown.
Sabine Woods – Texas – April
Chestnut-sided Warblers winter in Central and South America, and summer in the northeast U.S. and Canada. If you want to see this bird in the Austin area this spring, you probably only have a few more days. Migration is winding down, and although these birds come back through our area in the fall, they are much less common.
Most warblers have a preference when it comes to where they like to forage within a forest. Kentucky, Swainson’s, Ovenbird and others like to be low to the ground. Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Tennessee and others prefer the canopy. The mid-story warblers include American Redstart, Black-throated Green, Worm-eating, Chestnut-sided and several others. The nesting grounds of Chestnut-sideds are found in the thick brush of regenerating forests, specifically in areas recovering from recent wind damage or timber harvesting.
Sax Zim Bog – Minnesota – July
Most warblers that migrate through our area do not sing. They are not looking for mates, or defending territory, as they pass through. However, you will catch one singing every once in a while. Chestnut-sided sings a rapid pleased, pleased, pleased to meetcha! The bird below was singing its heart out on the Texas coast a few years ago.
Sabine Woods – Texas – April
Sources:
https://www.fws.gov/program/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation
