Most warblers pass briefly through my area when they are migrating in the spring and in the fall, but Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) stay with us for a good part of the colder season. This past Thursday I spotted quite a large number of Yellow-rumped Warblers as I wandered the trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
In the first photo, you can see a portion of the yellow patch that is responsible for the name of this species. Most of the time I see only the smaller yellow patches on their sides, because they tend to perch high above me and I am often shooting at an upwards angle.
I am amazed by the light weight of Yellow-rumped Warblers and their ability to perch on incredibly slender branches, as you can see in the second image. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, these little birds weigh only 0.4-0.5 ounces (12-13 g).
In the final photo, the warbler is poised to move on to its next perch. Yellow-rumped Warblers are not quite as hyperactive as some other species that I see at this time of the year, like Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, but they move around a lot as they forage for food.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I love these birds. Gre
Delightful portraits. The quality of light at this time of year really seems to have brought out the best in the plumage of these wee birds.
Nice photographs, Mike.
About a hundred years ago, I joined my first bird club near Baltimore, MD. I was a novice birder and was a bit taken aback on my first outing with the group and someone shouted “Butter-butts!”. Pretty descriptive of the Yellow-rumped Warbler.
I laughed when I read you comment, Wally. Indeed I have heard many birders refer to the Yellow-rumped Warblers with that nickname, which, as you noted, fits pretty well.
Beautiful shots of these delicate little creatures.
Thanks. Warblers are always tough to photograph and it is always a thrill for me when I manage to capture some of their beauty in my photos.
Cute little bird, lovely shots.