Parula Warbler

Earlier this year, my youngest (and largest) dog was cornered on the deck by something that was clearly very scary. I rushed to rescue him and immediately saw the fearsome creature: this lovely Northern Parula Warbler (Setophaga americana).

(No birds were harmed in the taking of this photo).

The Northern Parula is one of about 20 species of migratory warblers that breed on PEI. I’m no birder, but the Parula Warbler’s distinctive call is one of the few I recognize: a fast zzzzzzt-like trill that rises in pitch and ends abruptly. I frequently hear Parulas when I’m in mature forests around the Island, but didn’t appreciate how beautiful these birds are until I saw one up close.

Parulas spend their winters in southern Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America, typically returning to PEI in May. They build hanging nests from Beard Lichens (Usnea spp.), and so mature forests with lots of lichens are the best places to find them. Parulas and their nests are usually high in the canopy and can be hard to spot, but if these warblers are around, you’ll hear them: Northern Parulas are among the most commonly heard species in forest bird surveys on PEI.

Like most warblers, Parulas are primarily insect-eaters and so aren’t likely to appear at your backyard feeder. They feast on caterpillars, beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, and ants, as well as spiders (even though the latter aren’t insects). If you see a Northern Parula flitting about in a tree, grab your binoculars and take a closer look; you may see that its graceful – sometimes acrobatic – movements are all in aid of catching a meal.

By late summer, Northern Parulas’ breeding season is done and they begin their long-distance southern migration. While declines have been recorded in some species of migratory forest birds, Parula Warblers remain common and their numbers are considered stable.

I didn’t see how this particular Parula Warbler ended up on my deck, but high winds that day may have had something to do with it. I gave it a quick once-over to confirm it wasn’t injured and released it successfully among some nearby trees (much to my 100 lb dog’s relief!).

Parulas are gone for the season but will return next year as a wonderful sign of spring on PEI Untamed!