Learning on the Fly: Visiting Warblers Wendy Petschik Course Page:

Tentative Field Trip Dates Saturday, April 9 th or 16 th - Dort Rd, Surry Friday, April 22 nd – Robinhood Park/Greenlawn Cemetery, Keene, NH Saturday, April 23 st – Pisgah Park or Cheshire County Farm River Trail, Westmoreland, NH Friday, April 29 th – Keene Airport, Swanzey Saturday, April 30 th – Goose Pond, Keene, NH OR Friday, May 6 th – Goose Pond, Keene, NH

Migrant Visits Early spring brings a wide variety of migrants These warblers pass through NH and are often seen or heard for approximately 1-2 weeks – Bay-breasted Warbler – Blackpoll Warbler – Cape May Warbler – Palm Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler Song: Very high-pitched seetzy, seetzy, seetzy Large warbler of the northern spruce forests Rufous throat & flanks w/ creamy white chest Two broad white wingbars Size: 5-6 inches Black face & chestnut head video

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler Song: Very high-pitched tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit Common warbler of the northern boreal forest White chest with thin black stripes down sides Black mustache stripe, & white throat Two white wingbars Size: 5 inches Black cap & white cheek video

Blackpoll Warbler

Cape May Warbler Song: thin, high-pitched note repeated four to eight times Breeds in the boreal forest of Canada & northern US Back olive w/ black streaking and yellow patch on rump Chestnut or orange-brown cheek patches White wing patch Size: 4 ½ - 5 inches Blackish crown Throat and breast yellow w/ black streaks video

Cape May Warbler

Palm Warbler Song: Weak, fairly slow trill Easily recognized by the tail-wagging habit Brownish back Frequently wags/bobs tail Undertail bright yellow Size: 5 inches Chestnut cap Yellowish upderparts w/ faint chestnut streaks on sides

Palm Warbler

Northern Waterthrush Song: Rapid twit, twit, twit, sweet, sweet, sweet, chew, chew, chew (dropping in pitch) A warbler of wooded swamps and bogs Brown back with Creamy to pale yellow colored underside with dark stripes Striped throat Constantly bobs its tail Size: 5-6 inches Yellowish, or buff colored eye stripe video

Louisiana Waterthrush Song: Musical ringing, starts with 3 clear notes followed by a complex jumble of short, rapid phrases usually dropping in pitch Warbler of wooded swamps, ravines and brooks Brown back White underside and dark stripes Pure white eyestripe and extends beyond the eye Throat white and unspotted or striped Constantly swings its tail Size: 6 inches video

Northern Waterthrush or Louisiana Waterthrush Quiz

Canada Warbler Song: Clear and loud with a chip, chupety, swee-ditchety Active warbler in the northern mixed forests Yellow throat, chest & belly Necklace of dark streaks across chest White eyering with yellow mark in front of eyes No wingbars or tail spots Size: 5-6 inches Dark gray back video

Magnolia Warbler Song: Short and weak whistled, weta, weta, WETA with last note rising Forages close to the forest floor Yellow chest and throat Black necklace & black stripes down sides White wingbars or large white patch on wings & yellow patch on rump Large white patch on either side of black tail Size: 4-5 inches Gray crown w/ white eyebrow stripe video