Bird Gallery Index

Northern Parula image © Alan Murphy

Family: (Parulidae) Wood-Warblers

Preferred Habitat: Woodlands, usually close to water .

Seasonal Occurrence: Common in spring, lesser numbers in summer and fall.

Notes by Susan Billetdeaux: Males and females are similar in coloring but only adult males have black and reddish bands which cross the yellow breast. Northern Parulas are among the first warblers to arrive in the spring, showing up in March well before the main migration onslaught. They are one of two warblers species to nest at our High Island Sanctuaries. Northern Parulas breed primarily in two locations - southern woods laden with Spanish moss and northern boreal forests with extensive Usnea lichen which has growth habits similar to Spanish moss. High Island Northern Parulas regularly nest in Smith Oaks, where they find abundant Spanish moss to weave their cup-like nests.

Comments by Don Verser: In some years Parulas nest at High Island which confuses the start of migration. Records such as 07 Aug 2004 at Sabine Woods and 05 Aug 2006 at Sea Rim willows suggest migration is underway by the first week of August. [Editor's Note: See the chart of fall occurrence for Northern Parulas on the Upper Texas Coast, prepared by Don Verser, for more information about fall migration patterns.]