Yes, there are several species of warblers that can be found in Alaska during the spring and summer months. Alaska provides important breeding grounds for warblers that migrate thousands of miles from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. The most common warblers spotted in Alaska include the Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Wilson’s Warbler.
What are some of the warblers found in Alaska?
Here are some of the warbler species commonly found in Alaska each spring and summer:
- Yellow Warbler – A brightly colored warbler with yellow body and chestnut streaks. Breeds in wetlands and riparian areas across much of Alaska.
- Orange-crowned Warbler – A dull greenish warbler distinguished by its orange crown patch. One of the earliest spring warbler arrivals in Alaska.
- Yellow-rumped Warbler – Has bright yellow patches on its sides and rump. The most common and widespread warbler in Alaska.
- Blackpoll Warbler – A black and white warbler with a thin pointed bill. Breeds in boreal forests in Interior and Southcentral Alaska.
- Wilson’s Warbler – A small warbler with a black cap on a yellow face. Found breeding in scrubby areas statewide.
Other less common warblers spotted breeding in parts of Alaska include Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Magnolia Warbler.
When do warblers arrive in Alaska?
Most warblers arrive in Alaska in May to establish breeding territories after completing their long migrations from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The timing of arrival depends on the species:
- Orange-crowned Warblers – Among the earliest spring arrivals, appearing in early to mid-May.
- Yellow-rumped Warblers – Also arrive early, in early to mid-May.
- Yellow Warblers – Typical arrival in mid-May.
- Wilson’s Warblers – Peak arrival in late May.
- Blackpoll Warblers – Among the last to arrive, showing up in late May.
Weather conditions during migration can impact exact arrival dates each year. But most warblers hit their peak numbers in Alaska by the last week of May or first week of June.
Where are the best places to see warblers in Alaska?
Here are some top sites across Alaska for viewing migrating and breeding warblers:
- Westchester Lagoon – Near Anchorage, attracts high densities of warblers in May.
- Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge – The forests and wetlands outside Fairbanks host 20+ warbler species in summer.
- Mendenhall Wetlands – This Juneau hotspot offers great warbler watching along the trails and boardwalks.
- Potter Marsh – Easy access to a diversity of warblers near Anchorage’s Potter Marsh.
- Denali National Park – Excellent warbler breeding habitat, including Boreal Chickadee and Orange-crowned Warbler.
- St. Paul Island – This remote Bering Sea island is a migratory stopover for many warbler species.
Anywhere with dense shrubs or deciduous trees – like cottonwoods – provide good places in Alaska to look for migrating and nesting warblers.
What do warblers eat in Alaska?
Warblers feed on a diet of insects and spiders while breeding in Alaska. Their thin pointed beaks are perfect for plucking small bugs off of leaves and branches. Some common food sources include:
- Caterpillars
- Mosquitoes and flies
- Beetles
- Ants
- Spiders
- Aphids
Warblers play an important role in controlling insect populations that can become agricultural and forestry pests. Parent warblers will gather thousands of insects each day to bring back to feed their chicks in the nest.
How do warblers nest in Alaska?
Warblers build delicate cup-shaped nests out of grass, feathers, leaves, and spider silk. The female warbler does most of the nest construction work, usually completing the nest in under a week. Favorite nest sites include:
- On the ground hidden in grass, moss, or shrubs
- Up in dense coniferous trees like spruce
- In deciduous shrubs and saplings
- Along thickets near wetlands
The female will lay 3-5 eggs and incubate them for 11-12 days. Both parents feed the hatchlings that leave the nest about 9-12 days after hatching. Many warblers raise two broods each summer before migrating south again in July or August.
Why do warblers migrate to Alaska?
Warblers migrate to Alaska each summer to take advantage of the ample food and extended daylight hours. The long summer days in Alaska allow time for warblers to successfully breed and raise multiple broods. And the insect population booms in the boreal forests and wetlands providing abundant food to feed hungry nestlings. Other benefits of nesting in Alaska include:
- Lack of predators like snakes, raccoons, and squirrels
- Plentiful nesting sites and materials
- Mild summer temperatures
Alaska provides ideal breeding habitat far from the warblers’ wintering grounds in Mexico and Central and South America. The majority of warblers that nest in Alaska migrate thousands of miles back to their winter territory each fall.
How many different warbler species breed in Alaska?
Around 20 species of warblers regularly breed and nest in various parts of Alaska each summer. Here are some of the most common species and their estimated breeding populations according to the Alaska Songbird Institute:
Warbler Species | Estimated Breeding Population |
---|---|
Yellow Warbler | 500,000 to 1 million |
Yellow-rumped Warbler | 100,000 to 500,000 |
Orange-crowned Warbler | 100,000 to 500,000 |
Wilson’s Warbler | 100,000 to 500,000 |
Blackpoll Warbler | 10,000 to 100,000 |
A few other species, like Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and American Redstart breed in Alaska in smaller numbers usually under 10,000 pairs annually.
Do any warblers live in Alaska year-round?
The vast majority of warblers that nest in Alaska migrate south in the fall and spend the winter in warmer climates. But one notable exception is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Most Yellow-rumped Warblers migrate out, but an estimated 5,000 to 20,000 overwinter in parts of coastal and Southeast Alaska.
These hardy warblers are able to survive the cold Alaskan winters by switching their diet to wax myrtle berries and other persistent fruits. They are a reliable winter bird for many areas of Alaska outside the Interior.
How are warblers tracked during migration?
Ornithologists use several methods to study warbler migration timing and routes including:
- Banding – Putting small numbered metal bands around a warbler’s leg to identify individual birds later.
- Geolocators – Tiny backpack devices that record light levels used to estimate migration locations.
- Stable isotope analysis – Comparing ratios of isotopes in feathers grown on winter and summer grounds.
- Citizen science reports – Birdwatchers reporting warbler arrival and departure dates.
Tracking data has shown some warblers make incredibly long migrations. For example, Blackpoll Warblers that breed in Alaska migrate up 6,000 miles south to Peru and Brazil for the winter.
Are warbler populations threatened in Alaska?
Most warbler species that breed in Alaska have stable and healthy populations. Their populations are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands or millions. But a few species like the Blackpoll Warbler are declining more rapidly in parts of their range.
Threats to Alaska warblers include:
- Loss of boreal forest breeding habitat
- Increased nest predation from expanding red squirrel populations
- Collisions with structures during migration
- Climate change disrupting migration timing and food supply
Maintaining large tracts of intact boreal forest will be key for conservation of Alaska’s breeding warblers. Citzen scientists can also help by reporting dead warblers found below tall buildings during spring migration.
Conclusion
Alaska provides vital nesting habitat for over 20 species of warblers that undertake epic migrations to and from the state each year. These small songbirds brighten up the long Alaska summer days with their lively colors and active singing and foraging. Watching warblers flock through during the peak of spring migration is a highlight for many birders. And opportunities abound to find warbler nests and observe breeding behavior across the state’s forests and wetlands through the summer.