Let’s get the laugh out of the way first: yes, they are called Yellow-rumped Warblers, they do have yellow rumps, and sometimes we even call them “butter-butts”. This unique feature, present in all sexes and plumages, makes this species one of the easiest warblers to identify.
Even in the fall, when most warblers are relatively drab and difficult to distinguish, the yellow rump stands out. They are also one of the most abundant and latest warblers to migrate through Maine, and are most frequently seen during October. They nest throughout the state during the summer, concentrated in coniferous forest, especially in the White Mountains and North Woods, where they feast on the abundance of insects.
In the fall, as they migrate, they begin to eat more fruit. They are one of the few birds that can digest the waxy fruits of bayberries and juniper, and even relish the fruits of poison ivy! Conveniently, fall is also the best time to plant these native fruit-bearing shrubs if they aren’t already in your backyard, or to free them from the grasp of invasive species like Asiatic Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose, so they can continue to provide these benefits to birds and other wildlife.
Photo: Jeff Schmoyer
