Setophaga petechia
Bright yellow songbird and common breeding species across Ontario. Nests in shrubby riparian habitats and forages for insects in foliage.
Seasonal Activity
Diet
Insects, spiders, some fruit
Lifecycle
Neotropical migrant. Arrives in Ontario late April to early May. Breeds May-July. Nests in upright forks of shrubs or small trees 1-3 m above ground. Clutch size 3-5 eggs. Incubation 10-13 days. Fledglings leave nest 9-12 days after hatching. Frequently parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbird. Departs Ontario August-September. Winters in Central and South America.
Ecology
Native Habitats
Details
Description
The Yellow Warbler is a small (12-13 cm), bright yellow songbird with reddish breast streaks in males. One of the most widespread wood-warblers in North America and a common breeding bird across Ontario. Both sexes are bright yellow overall with olive-tinged backs. Males display reddish streaks on the breast and flanks during the breeding season.
Lifecycle
A complete migrant that overwinters in Central America and northern South America. Breeding phenology in Ontario:
- April-May: Arrival on breeding grounds
- May-July: Nesting and brood rearing
- August-September: Departure for fall migration
Nests are compact cups of plant fibres, grasses, and spider silk placed in the upright fork of a shrub or small tree. Brown-headed Cowbirds frequently parasitize Yellow Warbler nests; the warblers often respond by building a new nest layer over the parasitized clutch.
Ecology
Forages primarily by gleaning insects and spiders from foliage, often in the upper canopy of shrubs and small trees. Diet includes caterpillars, beetles, flies, wasps, and spiders. In late summer, will occasionally consume small fruits.
Plays a role in insect population regulation in shrubland and edge habitats. Sensitive to habitat fragmentation and loss of riparian shrub vegetation.
Habitat
Prefers wet, shrubby habitats: willow thickets, alder swales, riparian corridors, and edges of marshes and swamps in southern Ontario. Also uses forest edges, regenerating clearcuts, and shrubby gardens.
In southern Ontario, strongly associated with Carolinian forest edges, riparian zones along streams and creeks, and shrubby wetland margins.