Irresistible Young Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler chick in patchy juvenal plumage – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday morning I photographed a juvenile Yellow Warbler in the patchy mix of yellow and gray feathers that they only sport for a short time after fledging.  When Yellow Warbler chicks hatch their downy feathers are a soft, mousy gray color. Later on when these young warblers are ready to leave the nest some people might describe them as patchy, bedraggled looking or even having a moth-eaten appearance.

Cute juvenile Yellow Warbler in the mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

For me it is one of my most favorite plumage phases of young Yellow Warblers. They are so messy looking in appearance that I find them to be irresistible. I will photograph them at every opportunity.

In these images I can see pinfeathers where new yellow feathers will emerge. One day when they are of breeding age their plumage will matter when it comes to mate selection. At this age it doesn’t matter that the mix of gray and yellow feathers gives them a messy, patchwork appearance. I know from experience that this mix of gray and yellow feathers can help to camouflage them in their habitat which makes it harder for predators or even some bird photographers to spot them.

Inquisitive young Yellow Warbler in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Before this young Yellow Warbler migrates in the fall all of its gray natal down will be replaced with the yellow feathers that give this species their common name.

For a few weeks during the summer I am enchanted by this mix of their gray and yellow feathers.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Yellow Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.