Northern Parula

Parula americana 
Warbler family (Parulidae)

Very small warbler, 3 ¾” long. Short tail. Male (shown in image) – blue-gray upperparts, greenish-yellow patch on back, black and rufous bands across breast, yellow throat and breast. Female (not shown) – similar to male but chest bands are absent. Two conspicuous white wing bars.

Habitat:
Riparian forest.

Nesting:
Nests near the tip of a tree limb, 10 to 100 feet above ground. May nest in flood-deposited debris caught in branches of trees overhanging a river. Eggs are white with brown spots. Clutch size – 3 to 5 eggs.

Voice:

Song is a rapid buzzy trill that rises in pitch then drops suddenly with an explosive ending note, “zeeeeeeeeeee-yup”.

Name Origin:

Parula:  Parus, Latin for “titmouse”; -ula, Latin for “little”; literally “a little titmouse”.

In the Nature Park:
Neotropical migrant, arriving in late April or early May. Northern Parulas are hard to see because they usually occur in the tops of tall trees, but their song is easy to recognize. Common in riparian forests along the Creekside Trail.

Photos: