Images: Click to Enlarge

Left Side The little warbler stops just barely long enough for me to focus. Photo taken by Pete Brown on May 11, 2004 in Gambrills, MD. Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ-10 at full zoom.

Back The yellow/green saddle is clearly visible in thsi photo. Photo taken by Pete Brown on May 11, 2004 in Gambrills, MD. Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ-10 at full zoom.

Breast In between hops and short flights, I could see the breast of this cute little blue bird. Photo taken by Pete Brown on May 11, 2004 in Gambrills, MD. Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ-10 at full zoom.

Birding Information

In Early May 2004, Melissa and I had yet another new arrival on the property. This beautiful little blue and gold bird was very tame, but moved so quickly it was almost impossible to snap a photo. While technically a warbler, I decided to give this bird a page of its own.

Over the course of an hour, the Northern Parula returned to the same stand of fallen branches and logs several times. She was not the least bit concerned that I was there trying to photograph her.

The Northern Parula is a very small warbler. It will let you approach fairly close, but will not pose for you :-)

General Information

• Length: 4 1/4 inches (some sources say 3 3/4 inches) 
• Wingspan 7 inches
• Family: Parulidae

Identification (Male)

• Broken white eye ring 
• Bluish gray upperparts 
• Two bold white wing bars
• Bold yellow chin, throat, and breast 
• Chestnut and slate to blackish bands acoss upper breast
• White belly and undertail coverts
• Short blue-gray tail with white spots in outer tail feathers
• Yellow "saddle" on its back.

Identification (Female)

The female looks like the male but lacks the chestnut and slate bands across the breast

Identification and size information mainly from Birds of North America Eastern Region by Fred J. Alsop III, 2001 DK Publishing, Page 585

Other References

USGS Page on the Northern Parula

eNature Page on the Northern Parula (includes sound)