MacGillivray's Warbler

Happy #BirdOfTheWeek day! Photographer Mike caught this sweet moment of a singing MacGillivray’s warbler in rare form…exposed on a treetop! This secretive songbird prefers dense vegetation where they are difficult to spot.
MacGillivray’s warblers make a yearly journey to the western US and Canada from Mexico and Central America to breed. Even though they are reclusive, they are relatively common in the right habitat! During the breeding season, they are most often associated with disturbed second growth forests and vegetation around water. In Central America, migrating birds use shade coffee plantations and shrubby areas of other agricultural areas. Wintering birds seem to occupy almost every vegetated habitat from mangroves to thorn forest to cloud forest, so long as second growth or scrub is present. 🌲🌳
Like many other warblers, MacGillivray’s eats a variety of insects. Young birds have even been observed feeding on willow sap at sapsucker holes (a species of woodpecker). Happy birding!
🐦🦆🦅🦉
The spring season inspired us to create fun short clips featuring western Washington birds and their songs and calls. Be on the lookout every Friday on our social media accounts and RUclips for the latest Bird of the Week. We hope you enjoy learning about the amazing diversity of feathered friends benefitting from local land conservation!