I often wonder about the origins of the names of some species, but it’s pretty obvious why this particular bird is called a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). It is pretty hard to miss that posterior patch of bright yellow feathers, which leads some birders to affectionately call the bird a “butter butt.”
As I was tracking the bird through the vegetation, it came out into the open briefly, but turned away from me, and giving me a view of its underside. I find it fascinating to view a bird from multiple angles, but I must confess that I would have had trouble identifying the bird if this had been the only view that I had been able to capture.
Some of you may have noticed that I have been doing most of my photo treks these past few months in Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In this case, however, I spotted the warbler at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge last Friday, because I was checking to see if any dragonflies had emerged yet. There were none to be seen, but I am going out today, a week later, to search again for them. The weather is supposed to soar today to 80 degrees (27 degrees C), which is much more hospitable to dragonflies than the near-freezing levels that we had earlier in the week.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Hi Mike,
There were dragonflies out at OBNWR yesterday. I didn’t get any pictures but thought if you when I saw them.
I saw them today at OBNWR at multiple locations, all Common Green Darners. I got some shots of one, but have not yet download the images to my computer, so I am not sure how they turned out.
Benjamin likes the name “Yellow-rumped”! He did not know what the word rump meant, now he does. He does remember the name “butter butt” and likes that one too. We both think that your photos of this “pretty” bird are great no matter what you call them. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Sometimes I enjoy making up my own names for birds or other creatures that I photograph. Some of the “real” names are pretty crazy or don’t really match the actual subjects. I’m glad you both enjoyed this little bird–sometimes I think that having just a touch of color makes a bird prettier than one that is a solid color, even when that color is bright. For example, I often find a female cardinal to be more attractive that the bright red male.
Very nice images of the Butter Butt, Mike! I have seen only a few dragon flies here in SC so far.