# Northern Yellow Warbler (*Setophaga aestiva*) The Northern Yellow Warbler is a small, bright yellow bird that loves to sing. It flits around trees and bushes, making its cheerful song heard in the spring and summer. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 67 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Yellow Warbler](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dendroica-aestiva-001.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendroica-aestiva-001.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Yellow Warbler is a small, vibrant yellow bird, often with distinctive reddish-brown streaks on its breast, especially in males. Its bright plumage makes it stand out among foliage, distinguishing it from other duller warblers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Parulidae - **Genus:** Setophaga ## Interesting facts - Its tightly woven nests can hold water like a tiny cup! - Males sing a "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet" song! - Some warblers build new nest floors to bury unwelcome eggs! - These tiny birds migrate thousands of kilometers every year! ## Special abilities - **Nest Fortress Builder:** Northern Yellow Warblers can build incredibly strong, cup-shaped nests because they tightly weave plant fibers, making them durable. - **Brood Parasite Detector:** Northern Yellow Warblers can recognize and sometimes reject foreign eggs, even building new nest layers to bury unwanted ones. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Northern Yellow Warblers can perform swift, agile maneuvers in flight because of their small size, helping them catch insects mid-air. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-13 cm - **Wingspan:** 16-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.007-0.012 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 10-12 days - **Migration Distance:** 6000 km ## Diet & Feeding This tiny bird mostly eats insects, keeping many garden pests in check. - **Primary Foods:** Caterpillars, Moths, Beetles, Flies, Spiders, Aphids - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Brown-headed Cowbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-headed-cowbird) (*Molothrus ater*) — Lays eggs in warbler nests. - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — Predator of adult warblers. - **Shelter:** [Black Willow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-willow) (*Salix nigra*) — Often nests in willow thickets. - **Hunts:** Forest Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma disstria*) — Feeds heavily on these caterpillars. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Yellow Warbler? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Yellow Warbler? 10-13 cm ### What is Northern Yellow Warbler's wingspan? 16-20 cm ### How much does Northern Yellow Warbler weigh? 0.007-0.012 kg ### How long does Northern Yellow Warbler live? 2-10 years ### How fast can Northern Yellow Warbler move? 40 km/h ### What does Northern Yellow Warbler eat? This tiny bird mostly eats insects, keeping many garden pests in check. ### Where is Northern Yellow Warbler usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/historic-moravian-bethlehem-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District - [Jumel Terrace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jumel-terrace-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Kal-Haven Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kal-haven-trail) — Michigan, US · Trail [View all places to see Northern Yellow Warbler](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-yellow-warbler) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Yellow Warbler: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-yellow-warbler)