See all posts in the Birds of Carver County series
Setophaga magnolia – the magnolia warbler’s scientific name is derived from an ancient Greek word meaning “moth eater” and it reflects the magnolia trees where the species was first collected in 1810. Perhaps you could get a prize if you photographed one of these colorful birds in a Carver County magnolia tree! That photographer would have to be quick as well as lucky, because this species nests in the boreal forests of the state’s northern counties and only passes through our area during spring (May-June) and fall (Aug-Sept) migration.
Although magnolia warblers favor conifers for nesting, they can be seen almost anywhere that has bugs and larvae on leaves and twigs. The birds have great flexibility of their necks, and their beaks are sharply pointed instruments for plucking prey as the warblers move constantly through available vegetation. In scientific studies, warblers have been recorded consuming up to 22 tiny caterpillars in 14 minutes.
When we see these warblers, they are often in a flock of similar insectivores, and together they will move through trees in a wave. The timing of their arrival here in Minnesota coincides with expected hatching of insect larvae. But magnolia warblers don’t wait for them to morph into flying moths – they need to consume protein as soon as they can to sustain their long-distance journeys. So, when the chill of winter holds on longer than expected, migrating birds may have a difficult time fueling their energetic activities. That is one reason we are encouraged to plant native shrubs, plants and trees. They tend to have more “pests” than introduced ornamentals and exotics, but the payback for humans will be a sustainable population of birds.
About 5 inches long and 7 inch wingspan, nagnolia warblers are tiny when flitting among leaves. Fortunately, the contrasting black and yellow colors help us locate them. Males have a black necklace below its yellow throat and vertical black stripes extending down its yellow chest and belly. The female has a gray face and its chest and belly striping will be more subdued. The male has a black back and face mask, highlighted with a white eyebrow, eye rings and a wide wing bar. Females have a white eye ring and two thin wing bars, and its back is greenish brown. When flying, both sexes show a yellow rump and white band across their tail feathers.
Immature magnolias will be among the flocks that come south in September. They resemble adult females but lack the necklace and may have only weak streaking. Similar-looking Canada warblers also have yellow undersides with black necklaces and upper chest streaks, but their backs and heads are all dark gray, and they don’t have white wing marks.
During migration, the magnolia warbler males may practice their singing, but like most warblers, they are not very musical. Their vocalization is described as “weechy-weechy-weechip.” If you use online websites or the Merlin phone app (published by Cornell Ornithology Lab) to become familiar with its call, you may increase your chances of locating this impressively colored species among the overhead leaves. Perhaps if you imagine the beautiful blossoms of the magnolia tree, that might also help you find one!
For more information:
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, David Allen Sibley
- Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Janssen, Tessen, and Kennedy
- Breeding Birds of Minnesota, Pfannmuller, Niemi and Green
- The Audubon Society’s Encyclopedia of North American Birds, John K. Terres
- Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas
