Yellow-Rumped Warber (Dendroica coronata)

12/13/11 On our back patio. La Cresta, Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

10/24/10 On a bird bath underneath our sycamore trees. La Cresta, Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

2/2/02 Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA 

9/8/02 Twin Falls lookout point, Lake Mary Rd., Mammoth region of Eastern Sierra, Mono County, CA

4/2/06 On an avocado tree in our old house in La Puente, Los Angeles County, CA 

2/25/07 San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Yellow-rumped Warbler

SPECIES: Dendroica coronata 

FAMILY: Parulidae (Wood Warblers)

LIFE LIST DATE: 4/8/2001

LOCATION: Eaton Canyon Natural Area, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds-Western Region & Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: One of the easiest warblers to learn. Migrates earlier in spring and later in fall than others, and stays throughout winter in milder climates, surviving cold snaps by eating berries when insects are scarce. Summers in coniferous forests of north and mountains, winters in woodlands, parks, riversides, bayberry thickets. Can be very numerous in late fall, especially along coasts. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 5 1/2"; formerly considered 2 species: the northern and eastern "Myrtle Warbler" and the western "Audubon's Warbler." Now considered one species. Bird in all plumages have a yellow rump and yellow patch on the side, in front of each wing. Spring-Male: yellow crown patch with yellow throat. Spring -Female, Fall Adults & Immature: same basic pattern as breeding males but duller, with more brown plumage. Some imm. females may lack yellow crown and side patch.

VOICE: Slow warble. Call is like whip. 

(Our 2005 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival guide/docent, Freeman Hall, described their call as which which, like they're indecisive about which bug to eat).