Yellow Warblers in a Changing World

BirdNote^®

Yellow Warblers in a Changing World

Written by Conor Gearin

This is BirdNote. 

    [Yellow Warbler song]

In spring and summer, Yellow Warblers sing from treetops in city parks and stream sides from Mexico to Canada. These lemon-yellow birds especially love willow trees near running water — perfect for building a nest and finding food. 

    [Yellow Warbler song]

Males have red streaks on their breasts. In some areas of the Caribbean and Central America, the males may also have chestnut-colored hoods or caps. Females are a shade paler yellow and have unstreaked breasts. The sexes split up nesting duties: the female incubates the eggs, while the male brings food for his mate and chicks. 

Though common, Yellow Warblers face imminent challenges. Over time, Yellow Warbler populations have adapted genetically to their local climates. That makes them vulnerable to environmental shifts, which could cause the species to lose much of its breeding range in the U.S. by 2080. Yellow Warbler chicks are at risk during spring heat waves, and wildfires can destroy trees along streambanks. 

    [Yellow Warbler song]

So, addressing climate change means creating a more sustainable future for ourselves, but also keeping our most familiar and beloved birds around, too.

    [Yellow Warbler song]

For BirdNote, I’m Ariana Remmel.

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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Yellow Warbler ML516692 recorded by Wil Hershberger.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2022 BirdNote   June 2023         
Narrator: Ariana Remmel