Yellow-throated Warbler
Setophaga dominica

Content and photos by James Giroux

Like all warblers, the Yellow-throated Warbler migrates in the spring and fall. But, you could say that this warbler is “less ambitious” or “lazy” compared to most warblers. It is among the few warblers whose range does not extend into Canada during the summer, and does not extend into South America during winter. It is also one of only a handful of warblers that winters in the United States.

There are two distinct subspecies of Yellow-throated Warbler. The population along the east coast is resident, and does not migrate long distances. The other population that inhabits the interior U.S. (including our Texas population) migrates down to Mexico and Central America. There is also a subtle difference in appearance between these populations. The east coast birds have a yellow supra-loral area (between the eye and bill) whereas the line above the eye in the other group (interior and Texas) is all white.

The Yellow-throated Warbler is one of our earliest spring migrants in Central Texas – arriving in early to mid-March. It arrives about the same time as our more famous Golden-cheeked Warbler. Its diet is like most warblers, consisting of small insects and larva. It often hunts for food much like a Black-and-White Warbler or Brown Creeper in that it spirals around tree trunks and branches searching for prey.

Not many warblers nest in Central Texas, but Yellow-throated is one that does. For at least the last ten years, this bird has been consistently found at Commons Ford Park in Austin. It is almost always found in the Cyprus trees along the river in the “Volleyball” area. But if you want to see this bird this summer, don’t delay. It usually heads south in late August, and won’t be seen in our area again until late March.

Sources:
https://allaboutbirds.org
https://eBird.org
https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/yellow-throated-warbler/