Pine Warbler

The song of a Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) rang out just after sunrise at North Lookout as the brightly-colored songbird disappeared over the ridge and out of sight. Pine warblers, unlike most other warblers, do not migrate into the Neotropics and instead spend their winters in the southeastern U.S. They are partial migrants, meaning some of the northernmost populations migrate while the southernmost populations are year-round residents. As their name suggests they spend much of their time in pine forests, usually high in the canopy. Identification by sight alone can be tricky, so if you can’t see them listen for their melodic trill which sounds similar to a dark-eyed junco or chipping sparrow. 

Photo by Bill Moses.