Northern Parula Warbler

Yesterday, neighbor Don asked me to identify a crazy bird for them. Here was this warbler flying and landing on their atrium door screen. It would take off, fly around, and then back to the screen or sometimes it would perch on their outside thermometer. It would land just inches from us as it made its return flight back to the screen.

I knew it was a warbler, and this guy was easily identified (By the Audubon Field Guide) as a Northern Parula Warbler. It is a beautiful bird.

The Northern Parula is one of the smaller Northern migratory warblers. Length is 10.8–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) and body mass is 5–11 g (0.18–0.39 oz). This species has mainly gray upper parts, with a greenish back patch and two white wing bars. The breast is yellowish shading into the white belly. The summer male has bluish and rufous breast bands and prominent white eye crescents. Females are duller and lack the breast bands. The breeding habitat is humid woodland.

These birds feed on insects and spiders. Their song is a click-like trill or buzz, zeeeeee-yip. Their call is a soft chip.