Cape May Warbler
Setophaga tigrina
Cape May Warblers spend their winters in the West Indies, the Caribbean, and Central America, north as far as the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. When spring rolls around, they pack up and head north for the summer breeding season to Canada and the northeastern USA. Their range in Canada extends from northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories to the Maritime provinces and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
These birds enjoy similar summer habitats and diets as Blackburnian, Bay-Breasted, and Blackpoll Warblers. One strategy employed by these birds is how they locate their nests to minimize conflicts. Blackpoll Warblers nest very low (about 5 feet) in the tree, and Bay-Breasted higher (about 16 feet), while Cape May and Blackburnian Warblers nest at 40 to 80 feet. This quartet of warblers play an important role in the war on the Spruce Budworm, which can devastate millions of acres of forest.
Today, science considers the Cape May Warbler as monotypic (there are no recognized subspecies).
I enjoyed meeting these birds during my 2021 spring migration vigil on South Padre Island. I met many warblers for the first time during this visit, and hence, all were special to me. Some visiting warblers seemed to have a rock star status among the more experienced local birders. The Cape May Warbler seemed to be one such bird.
18 Photos
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 9:53 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X4710-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 10:32 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5019-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 10:33 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5037-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 11:04 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5073-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 11:04 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5083-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Interesting feathered tongue. The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 11:09 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5111-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: The Cape May Warbler was the best gift the island provided this morning. This was my first meeting with the species. My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 11:10 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5153-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warblers were still present almost a week after first being sighted. I had an exceptional day at the SPI Convention Centre. I met three new bird species: Veery, Dickcissel, and Black-Billed Cuckoo. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:15 11:23 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5676-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warblers had arrived several days ahead of the big warbler fallout. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 9:52 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6155-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warblers were especially abundant during this spring migration. Tuesday’s birds at South Padre Island (Texas) were all great birds for me, but most of us at the Convention Center expected overnight north winds to provide a feast on Wednesday for interested birders. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:04 12:41 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X5458_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warblers were especially abundant during this spring migration. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 15:31 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6574_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warblers were especially abundant during this spring migration. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 15:37 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6598_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: Cape May Warbler males have been visiting SPI for weeks. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:06 12:38 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6748_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: This Cape May Warbler female was chasing all other warblers from the oranges placed to nourish the travelling birds. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:06 13:48 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/350 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6817_SPI-BirdAndNatureCTR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: This Cape May Warbler female was chasing all other warblers from the oranges placed to nourish the travelling birds. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:06 13:48 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X6823_SPI-BirdAndNatureCTR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: This Cape May Warbler female was chasing all other warblers from the oranges placed to nourish the travelling birds. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:06 16:49 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_D5X7181_SPI-BirdAndNatureCTR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: This Cape May Warbler was one of the few warbler species I met during my visit to Point Pelee in Ontario Canada. Because of the limited views I had of this bird, I was only able to identify it after I looked at my images. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:09 11:24 |
|
Location:
Point Pelee National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_ZX92567_PointPeleeNP-ON-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cape May Warbler(Setophaga tigrina) |
|
Description: This Cape May Warbler was one of the few warbler species I met during my visit to Point Pelee in Ontario Canada. Because of the limited views I had of this bird, I was only able to identify it after I looked at my images. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:09 11:24 |
|
Location:
Point Pelee National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: CapeMayWarbler_ZX92552_PointPeleeNP-ON-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
