American Yellow Warbler

migratory bird · North America · songbird · yellow

Golden travelers. American yellow warblers are brilliant yellow birds that fly incredible distances every year, leaving their North American homes in fall and returning in spring to breed.

Breeding all across. These warblers make their homes throughout most of North America, from Canada down to Mexico, building small nests in shrubs and trees.

Cheerful singers. Male yellow warblers have a distinctive, energetic song that sounds like rapid chirps and whistles, which they sing to claim their territory and attract mates.

Recently reclassified. Scientists used to think yellow warblers in different parts of the world were all one big species, but they discovered that mangrove warblers living in Central America were actually different enough to be their own kind.

Tiny bug hunters. These small warblers spend their days flitting through branches and leaves hunting for insects to eat, making them important for controlling bug populations.