A change in diet

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A change in diet

October 20, 2018 by Mike Powell

Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) eat mostly insects in the summer, but when the weather gets colder they switch to seeds and berries. This past week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge I captured a number of shots of Yellow-rumped Warblers as they munched on what I think are poison ivy berries.

In the past, I have seen birds eating these berries only during the coldest days of the winter, leading me to think they were the only available food source. Who knows, maybe poison ivy berries are a real delicacy—though I am not will to try them to see if that is true.

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, poison ivy, poison ivy berries, Setophaga coronata, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA, Yellow-rumped Warbler | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on October 20, 2018 at 9:33 am | Reply sbctest2016

The calorie-rich berries are persistent and provide excellent food when little else is available. Northern flickers, Bobwhite quail, Eastern phoebes, Cedar waxwings, Woodpeckers, Tufted titmouses, American robin, Mockingbirds among others eat the berries. The seeds pass thru their guts to be distributed with a nice bit of fecal fertilizer. Most efficient. Susan Clark
- on October 20, 2018 at 9:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Wow. Thanks for the great info. I had no idea so many species consumed those berries, which I somehow assumed might be poisonous.
on October 20, 2018 at 9:38 am | Reply sbctest2016

The calorie-rich berries are persistent and provide excellent food when there is not much else available. The berries are eaten by Robins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Quail, Woodpeckers, among others. The seeds pass through their guts and are distributed with a nice packet of fecal fertilizer. Most efficient. SC
on October 20, 2018 at 9:40 am | Reply joyroses13

Interesting that the birds eat them but yes I believe it’s wise for you not to try them. 🙂 Great shot !
- on October 20, 2018 at 9:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  🙂
on October 20, 2018 at 11:06 am | Reply kenneturner

Phainopepla’s do the same. They spend summer at higher elevations eating insects, then at this time of year they return to the lower desert levels to eat the berries and seeds. The presence of this beautiful bird is a nice winter treat.
on October 20, 2018 at 3:43 pm | Reply blhphotoblog

We have some European Warblers that turn to berries at this time of the year even though there are plenty of insects about, it helps them build up fat levels to aid migration.
on October 20, 2018 at 5:29 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Now we see how PI spreads! Great shots, Mike.
on October 20, 2018 at 9:39 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

The center shot is amazing! No, please do NOT try those berries.
- on October 20, 2018 at 9:42 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I was kidding in the post–I have absolutely no intention of trying the poison ivy berries.