4 different species you may encounter this April.
Have you heard some new birdsongs around California recently? You might have stumbled upon some early bird spring migrants!
Migratory birds don't all take off at the same time. Their arrivals are staggered based upon ancient patterns tied to food and habitat availability. Thanks to the Bird Migration Explorer (available in Spanish here), you can find exactly where your favorite birds are right now.
The Gray Catbird's species migration map.
Here are some songbirds you may be able to spot near you, depending on where you live:
Gray Catbird
From March to late April, Gray Catbirds begin migrating from Mexico, Central America, and the southern United States to their northern U.S. breeding grounds and up into Canada. Catbirds often hide in shrubbery, making an odd variety of musical and harsh sounds, including the catlike mewing responsible for its name.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Beginning as early as March and through April, Yellow-rumped Warblers move northward as part of the first major wave of migrating songbirds. These "butterbutts" can be found in various types of habitat across the continent, from Mexico up through Canada, but they are most at home in conifer forests, where they prefer to breed during spring.
Orange-crowned Warbler
Compared to most warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers migrate relatively early in spring. They tend to stay fairly low, in bushes or small trees, flicking their tails frequently as they search among the foliage for insects.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
These tiny birds are first-wave, short-distance migrants, with their peak migration period being in April in many areas. Ruby-crowned Kinglets often flit about low in woods and thickets, flicking its wings nervously as it approaches the observer.
In a matter of weeks, spring migration will be in full swing across the United States, providing a dazzling array of identification challenges for bird-lovers across the country. Catch your feathered friends they embark on their journeys with the Bird Migration Explorer! | | | | |
| Photos clockwise from top left: Gray Catbird, Katherine Sayn-Wittgenstein/Audubon Photography Awards; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Howard Wu/Audubon Photography Awards; Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mick Thompson; Orange-crowned Warbler, Devin Grady/Audubon Photography Awards | | | | |
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