Canada Warbler

May 30, 2009 - This male silently hunted insects in cottonwoods, honey mesquites, and other trees at Parker Ranch during an unusual warm rainstorm. It was quite active and hard to follow, flying often to new branches.

Warblers were active during this humid overcast day.

The rain may have activated a termite colony to send out flying males, and the warblers had a feast flying after them. Several Wilson's warblers and Yellow warblers flew out from the trees to try to catch the slow insects rising from the ground. The Canada warbler many times practiced "flycatching" out from the trees over an open area.

The Canada warbler swooping down to catch a flying termite.

Canada warbler darting out after fluttering termites.

A juvenile Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister) joined in the feast, running after termites on the ground.

 

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