Yellow-rumped warbler

Yellow-rumped warbler photographed in Manitoba

The yellow-rumped warbler is sometimes called the butterbutt, thanks to the bright yellow patch at the base of its tail. It also has yellow on the crown and sides, and it is among the most common warblers in North America. In spring, flocks pass through Manitoba in large numbers.

It is one of the hardiest warblers, able to eat berries such as bayberry and wax myrtle when insects are scarce, which allows it to winter farther north than most of its relatives. It nests in coniferous forests in northern Manitoba. It is one of the first warblers to return in spring, often in April, and one of the last to leave in fall.

I love the bright yellow patches on a yellow-rumped warbler, small pops of colour on an otherwise grey-brown bird.

For more on the yellow-rumped warbler and its habitat, see its species guide at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Yellow-rumped warbler photographed in Manitoba
  • Yellow-rumped warbler standing on a duckweed-covered pond surface beside dry reeds, Manitoba
  • Yellow-rumped warbler standing on ice with its reflection below, showing the yellow flank patch and dark cheek, Manitoba
  • Yellow-rumped warbler in fall plumage perched among dried thistle heads

Yellow-rumped warbler Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the yellow-rumped warbler in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the yellow-rumped warbler nests and migrates, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the yellow-rumped warbler in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Taiga Shield, the Hudson Plains, and the Boreal Plains (gold) and passing through the Prairies in spring and fall (lilac). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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