Beautiful visitor’s just passing through
Wilson’s warbler doesn’t nest in NM but is seen migrating to Mexico and Central America.
We are fortunate in New Mexico to be on the migratory pathway for many birds that travel south in the fall headed to their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. One of these migratory birds is the Wilson’s warbler. It is one of the smallest warblers, averaging about 5 inches in length. It has a yellow body, and the male has a noticeable black cap on the top of its head. The beak is small and pointed. It is a common warbler that migrates through all of the contiguous 48 states.
Wilson’s warblers do not nest in New Mexico. Their summer nesting range extends from the northern Rocky Mountains and coastal northwest throughout Canada and Alaska. This warbler nests on the ground, except in the coastal regions. The female uses small depressions on the ground at the base of saplings in forested areas to build her nest. In the coastal nesting regions of California and Oregon, the Wilson’s warbler builds its nest up to five feet above ground. It has been observed that the aboveground nests produce fewer eggs than their ground-nesting counterparts. Both the male and female protect the nest site from predators.
Now is the time to look for Wilson’s warblers in New Mexico, but they can be tough to spot. They rarely sit still, even when eating. This active warbler darts among tree branches and bushes searching for insects, larvae and spiders. They will often hover as they glean insects from tree leaves.
Watch for them flying out from low branches to grab flies and other flying insects in midair. They are also known to drink “honeydew,” a sweet liquid excreted by scale insects as they feed on oak trees.
The best way to attract them to your yard is to plant native trees and shrubs. Providing a birdbath is also a great way to get a close-up view of this attractive warbler.
The Wilson’s warblers overall population is estimated at 60 million but is in steep decline. This decline is believed to be due to habitat loss along migratory routes. The decline is more prominent in the West than in the East. Planting native vegetation in your backyard may provide a much-needed “rest area” for the Wilson’s warbler during their long migration.