Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Northern Parula

In springtime, this delightful small wood warbler can be seen actively moving in upper tree branches seeking insects.  The Northern Parula, about the size of a kinglet, is one of those wee birds.  This multicolored delicate bird likes moist deciduous evergreen or mixed woods.  It can be found near any body of water and beard or Spanish moss is necessary for nesting.  Spanish moss will be found in the forests of the South, while beard moss grows in the northern areas.

This is usually a mid- to upper-story canopy bird that hovers for insects, but usually remains out of sight.  It is similar to a chickadee clinging to branches upside down.  They are actually quite friendly and tame when encountered.

                                                                  Northern Parula
                                               South Padre Island Convention Center, 2014

A breeder of the east, Northern Parula families are readily found in eastern Oklahoma.  The female is a pendulum nest builder in their favored moss of the region.  Sometimes clumps of vegetation and tangled vines are used for nest building.  At times the female will build a concealing veil above and around the nest, so it might only be visible from under it.  It takes about four days to build.  Though she is the sole incubator, she leaves the nest quite often to forage.  Both sexes feed the young, but the greater share is done by the female.

The original name for the Northern Parula was the Finch Creeper.   The species is known to hybridize with the Yellow-throated Warbler, and the offspring are called Sutton's Warbler.  They are extremely rare

One of the earliest spring migrants for warblers, this New World Warbler is found on the breeding grounds in April or May, with fall migration from September through mid-October.

Fall Migration Is Appearing At Your Local Hotspots

                                                              Mississippi Kite

                                                                    Forster's Tern

                                                             Mallard Pair, Male on Right
                                                                        "The Guardian"

                                                          Mississippi Kite in a Stoop

                                                           First Year Great Blue Heron

                                                                           Ditto

                                                                           Ditto


August 2018

This is material from the first half of the month.  As you can see, the stars of the show are the Mississippi Kites, some of whom in Oklahoma lost fledglings out of various nests due to several violent storms over the past few weeks.  It is also believed that excessive heat was also a factor, perhaps causing some of the birds to vacate the nests whether or not they were ready.  A number of Blue Darters have been in the care of our local rehabilitator in Perkins.  To learn more about the Mississippi Kite, read the species profile here:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/07/oklahoma-breeding-bird-species-profile_21.html

A few days ago, after another round of storms, one also with sixty mph wind gusts, brought us seven
Forster's Terns.  The one above is a breeding adult.  Granted the photo is not the best, but you should note the trailing edges on the wings.  Not only is this beautiful, you can distinguish breeding terns by this characteristic.

The Mallard pair also struck me as a beautiful scene, so I also bring you that photo.  I shall later refer to it as The Guardian.  I believe it appears that the male is guarding the female.

The Great Blue Heron is a first year bird, hatched at our local rookery.  One can observe the dark blue coloring coming in, as well as dappled tan and white shoulder patches, or epaulets.  The chest and belly are also lightly streaked, and the legs are gray and green, also a juvenile characteristic.

Migration is upon us, so dust off those binoculars and share your migrants through eBird.