At first glance I thought I was seeing a goldfinch flying to one of my feeder poles. I’m so glad I got the binoculars out for a better look.
This little Pine Warbler was the first warbler I spotted during this spring migration season—at home or in the field.
Most warblers eat insects, so you won’t see them at your bird feeders. But Pine warblers eat seeds (in addition to insects and berries), so they will occasionally visit backyard bird feeders.
This guy was getting his energy back by eating suet.
Most warblers spend the winters in Central or South America, but Pine Warblers winter in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. That means they are one of the first warblers to arrive in the north in late winter and early spring.
Most of the spring migrating birds are only around for a short time before they continue further north to their summer breeding grounds.
That’s why I love migration season. You never know what new bird species may drop in each day during April and May!
Thanks to new technology, it’s much easier to find find migrating birds. The Birdcast Migration Dashboard will let you know when a large number of new birds has arrived in your area overnight.
And the Merlin app can help you listen for specific species of birds so you know if any are in your backyard or local park. Then the hunt is on!
This particular bird stayed for just one day.