The northern parula is a small, colorful songbird found in North America. Its scientific name is Setophaga americana. This species breeds in eastern and central North America and winters from southern Florida to Central America. The northern parula is a warbler, a group of small passerine birds found primarily in the New World.
The northern parula has blue-gray upperparts with a green back patch, white underparts, and yellow patches on the throat, breast, and sides. Adult males have a rusty-red or chestnut breast band. The species gets its common name from its buzzy trilled song, which sounds similar to the word “parula.”
Northern parulas inhabit forests and woodlands, often closely associated with standing or running water. They build cup-shaped nests in hanging vegetation like Spanish moss or Usnea lichens. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other small arthropods.
Range and Population
The northern parula breeds across eastern North America, from southern Canada south to the Gulf Coast and western Texas. Its breeding range extends as far west as eastern Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and eastern Arizona. The species winters in southern Florida, the Caribbean, and from southern Mexico down into Panama.
According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the total population of northern parulas is estimated at around 9 million breeding birds. Within its core breeding range in the eastern United States and Canada, northern parulas are common and their populations appear to be stable or even increasing slightly in many areas. They are not considered threatened or endangered.
However, the species occupies a very large range and it is difficult to precisely monitor total population trends across its entire distribution. Local northern parula populations can fluctuate from year to year, especially in response to severe weather, habitat loss, or availability of nesting sites. But their overall abundance and lack of major threats suggests northern parulas remain a common species over most of eastern North America.
Habitat
The northern parula inhabits a variety of forest and woodland habitats during the breeding season. Typical nesting sites include:
- Deciduous forests
- Mixed forests
- Riparian woodlands along streams and rivers
- Swamps and bottomland forests
- Open woodlands with scattered trees
A key component of its breeding habitat is an abundance of suitable nesting sites. Northern parulas build nests in hanging vegetation above ground or water. Some preferred nest sites include:
- Spanish moss
- Old man’s beard lichen
- Mistletoe
- Usnea lichen
- Hanging ferns or vines
The presence of these plants allows northern parulas to nest in floodplain forests, cypress swamps, humid maritime forests, and even trees draped in Spanish moss in urban parks. Northern parulas are flexible in using whatever suitable nesting materials exist within forests.
On their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, northern parulas utilize a broader range of scrubby second growth, forests, woodlands, mangroves, and plantations.
Migration
Northern parulas are long-distance neotropical migrants. They breed across eastern North America and the Great Plains from April to July. By late summer, northern parulas start migrating back to their wintering grounds.
Fall migration takes place from late August through October. This species winters primarily in southern Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. Northern parulas follow the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast during migration, pausing at coastal woodlands and forests along the way.
Spring migration occurs from March to May as the birds return to their breeding areas. Males tend to arrive first and establish breeding territories before the females return. Both the fall and spring migrations occur at night.
Diet
Northern parulas forage actively in trees and shrubs for insects and other small arthropods. Their diet consists predominantly of insects like:
- Caterpillars
- Beetles
- Ants
- Flies
- Leafhoppers
- Spiders
They use their thin, pointed bill to pick insects off leaves and branches. They occasionally feed on nectar, berries, and seeds as well. Northern parulas hunt for prey within forests along tree trunks, branches, and the undersides of leaves. They capture insects while hovering briefly or hang upside-down to access the undersides of foliage.
In winter, northern parulas broaden their diet to include fruits and nectar from flowers and sugar sources. They have a fast, darting flight pattern as they chase down flying insects above the forest canopy.
Nesting
The breeding season for northern parulas extends from April to July, with peak activity in May and June. After arriving on the breeding grounds, males establish and defend nesting territories.
Females build the nest, which is an open cup woven from a wide variety of plant materials and spider silk. Typical nest locations include hanging tufts of Spanish moss, old man’s beard lichen, vines, and branches over water. The nests are well-camouflaged and difficult for predators to spot from below.
The female lays 3-7 eggs, which are white with brown speckles. She incubates the eggs alone for 12-14 days. The altricial hatchlings are cared for by both parents and leave the nest at 10-12 days old. Northern parulas commonly raise two broods per season, especially in southern parts of their range.
Nest predation and brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds can significantly impact reproductive success. But overall, nest success rates for northern parulas tend to be fairly high. Their well-hidden nests in hanging substrates help minimize risks.
Threats
With large populations across a wide habitat range, northern parulas currently face relatively few major threats. However, they do face some localized impacts:
- Loss of wintering habitat in Central America due to deforestation
- Forest fragmentation on breeding grounds
- Nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds
- Collisions with towers and buildings during migration
Sustainable forestry practices and conservation of Spanish moss habitat can help preserve breeding populations. Maintaining quality habitat on both their wintering and breeding grounds is key for the continued success of northern parulas.
Fun Facts
- The buzzy trill song of the male northern parula sounds like “zee-zee-zeeeee-up!”
- Nests constructed in Spanish moss help insulate eggs and chicks from temperature extremes.
- Their Latin name Setophaga means “moth eating.”
- Northern parula warblers get their common name from their distinctive two-part song.
- Males may learn their songs from neighbors, leading to regional song dialects.
Conclusion
In summary, the northern parula is a common warbler species found across eastern North America. Millions breed across a large range from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. They inhabit various forest and woodland types, where they nest in hanging vegetation. Northern parulas forage actively on insects and migrate long distances to overwinter in the tropics. Widespread and adaptable, northern parula populations appear stable for now across most of their range. Maintaining suitable breeding habitat and migratory stopover sites will help ensure these colorful songbirds remain a common sight and sound in eastern forests.
