Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

A small bird of the deciduous forests, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is constantly flitting from one branch to another as it searches for small insects. This little guy is also always twitching its tail back and forth. Pictured is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher leaving its perch and one about to swallow a huge gnat. :) Pictures were taken along boardwalk of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.

Bay-breasted Warbler

The Bay-breasted Warbler is closely related to the Blackpoll Warbler and hybrids between the two species are known. The Bay-breasted Warbler is known to also hybridize with Yellow-rumped and Blackburnian Warblers. The Bay-breasted Warbler usually feeds on insects and spiders as well as fruit in the winter. I caught this guy feeding on an insect he had just caught. He swallowed the whole thing. Yummy!

Northern Parula

The Northern Parula ia a small warbler of the upper tree canopy. During spring migration, I often hear the "ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip" of the Northern Parula but it is very difficult to see as it flits about high in the tree tops. The warbler pictured was in the upper branches of a tree but, luckily, I was also high in an observation tower at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, a wonderful natural area located on Lake Erie near Toledo, Ohio.