Warbler sightings in the Lehigh Valley

Blackburnian Warbler

The final week of August turned out to be a great time to see warblers, the small chickadee-sized songsters. Sightings of a variety of species were reported throughout the Lehigh Valley and vicinity. Some of the birds are getting ready to head south for the winter.

North America is home to 51 different species of warblers. Most are colorful birds. Yellow is common but you will also see blue, green, gray, chestnut, black, orange or red.

A good clue to identifying warblers is their behavior. Most warblers are quick and agile as they forage, flitting from one spot to another within the forest canopy. We often get only a few seconds to identify the species.

Generally only males sing, usually from medium high to high branches. Most songs are high pitched; some are a series of whistled notes on the same pitch and others are high-pitched trills. Still other calls (you really can't call them "songs") are raspy buzzes.


Here are Lehigh Valley warbler sightings for the week ended August 28. The list was compiled by The Bird House using reports filed with the online service ebird.org.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Monocacy Nature Center, Northampton County
Black-and-white Warbler, 2 on August 28.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 26 and 3 on August 28.
Blackburnian Warbler, 1 on August 23 and 1 on August 28.
Worm-eating Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Nashville Warbler, 2 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 on August 23; 2 on August 26; and 4 on August 28.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 26 and 2 on August 28.
Blue-winged Warbler, 1 on August 23.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 on August 23.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Black-throated Green Warbler

State Game Lands 168, Northampton County
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Jordan Parkway, Lehigh County
Connecticut Warbler 1 (immature) on August 28.
Magnolia Warbler, 3 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Pine Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 25 and 1 on August 26.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Blackburnian Warbler, 1 on August 23.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on August 23.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 2 on August 23.
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 22.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 22.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 23.

Hooded Warbler (male)

Trexler Nature Preserve, Lehigh County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 22 and 2 on August 23.

Little Gap, Carbon County
Prairie Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Peace Valley Nature Center, Bucks County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 23; 9 on August 26; 2 on August 27; and 2 on August 28.
Cape May Warbler, 1 on August 26.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 26; 4 on August 27; and 2 on August 28.

Blackburnian  Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on August 26; 2 on August 27; and 3 on August 28.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 2 on August 23; 1 on August 26; and 2 on August 28.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 on August 26 through August 28.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 23; 1 on August 26; and 2 on August 28.

Hooded Warbler, 1 on August 27.
Blue-winged Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Prairie Warbler, 2 on August 24.
Canada Warbler 1 on August 24.