Spotting Warblers During Spring and Fall Migration

*Left to right: Male Palm Warbler, Male Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler*

Use a tracking tool to find out when warblers will be in your area

Depending on where you live, warblers may be in your area for shorter or longer periods of time.

In my area, warblers are mostly just passing through during spring and fall migration. I have a narrow window of time to spot them, so it helps to use a tool like the BirdCast Migration Dashboard to see what kind of activity is happening on any given day.

Look in habitat areas that warblers are typically drawn to

*A fallen tree at the edge of a creek makes for the perfect warbler-spotting location*

I have the best luck spotting warblers when I look near still or calm water that has medium-density brush along the edge because they like to forage and be covered. If you’re not sure where a good location would be near you, try using an app like AllTrails to find local spots. You can narrow your search using the filters for things like “lake” and “river”. This will help point you in the right direction.

Try to go out in early to late morning in mild weather

*Male Yellow-rumped Warbler, spotted with a few other warblers in late morning next to a creek bed.*

Try to get outside in the morning, as that is when birds are actively eating, foraging, and nesting. Of course, they’re active in more than just the morning, but I always see more activity when I go early instead of later in the afternoon. While I typically don’t go out in nature and find nothing, I do notice much more singing, fluffing, preening, and eating when the day is milder in temperature and wind is low.

Watch for movement, stand still, and give it some time

*Yellow Warbler, finally captured after watching for 30 minutes*

Birds are shy, and the mere act of walking around can often send them flying away to take cover. If you’re walking around, look for movement, and then once you find it, stand still. Many times they’ll come back out, or fly back around, especially if they were eating. For me, birding is about 20% walking, and 80% standing still and waiting.

This photo of a Yellow Warbler took at least 30 minutes to get. I had to patiently stand under a tree and follow him with my lens until he finally peeked out for a split second and I got the shot.

Have fun and treat it like a treasure hunt

Migration seasons are so fun, especially because you get to see types of birds that don’t normally live year-round in your area. Be patient, and don’t give up! Sometimes I go out and don’t spot anything for that trip, but other times I feel like I strike gold and I see one or more species in a single outing. It feels like finding treasure, and what fun would treasure be if it was perfectly predictable and abundant… ;)

I hope you give warbler-ing a try! If you do go out and spot one, tag me on instagram @birdyyy_photo. I’d love to celebrate with you!

~Kristen :)