Yellow-rumped Warbler With Eastern Poison Ivy Berries

Fall Yellow-rumped Warbler at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2000, +1.7 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

While I was at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge late last week, I photographed a Yellow-rumped Warbler feasting on poison ivy berries next to the gravel road.

Had it not been for an excited Ruby-crowned Kinglet with his crest raised in the stand of trees next to the road, I may have missed getting photos of this Yellow-rumped Warbler altogether.

The kinglet was apparently eating the berries and might have been upset that the larger warbler was nearby.

By the time I focused on the kinglet and was about to take photos of him, the warbler flew down and chased the kinglet off.

Yellow-rumped Warbler eating Eastern Poison Ivy berries – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2000, +1.7 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

Just as soon as the warbler landed on the poison ivy vine, it began to eat the berries. Yellow-rumped Warblers can easily switch from a diet of insects to berries and fruits when the temps drop and insects disappear.

It seemed that whenever the warbler grabbed a poison ivy berry, or drupe, they took it from the backside of the berries, which left me without photos of the bird pulling the berry from the vine.

I wanted an unobstructed view of that, but my hopes were dashed.

Yellow-rumped Warbler and Eastern Poison Ivy berries – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2000, +1.7 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

I wish I had had a longer session with this Yellow-rumped Warbler, but a vehicle was heading right at me, stirring up dust on the gravel road. I took a few more images and hoped the pickup wouldn’t scare off the warbler. It did though, so I moved down the road to look for more birds and animals.

Life is good.

By the way, Happy Winter Solstice!

Mia

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