Early May Migrants

Image from the web showing the migration pattern of songbirds during the spring months

As can be seen above, the peak migration of songbirds is occurring just about now in New York State. Today the 14th of May signals the first day of the height of migrating warblers and other songbirds. Today’s blog will highlight some of those early arrivals that I have observed and photographed during this past week. Keep in mind that only a couple of weeks ago, these birds may well have been located in Central and South America, and many will continue to move north in the next couple of weeks to their Canadian and Arctic breeding grounds.

Chestnut-sided warbler - Iona Island - 5/11/26

Warbling vireo - Iona Island - 5/11/26

Bobolink - Otterkill Road - 5/12/26

Pine warbler - Iona Island - 5/13/26

Rose-breasted grosbeak - Silver Mine - 5/13/26

Cerulean warbler - 1777 Trail Head, Bear Mt. - 5/14/26

Indigo bunting - 1777 Trail Head, Bear Mt. - 5/14/26

Ovenbird - 1777 Trail Head, Bear Mt. - 5/14/26

All the birds seen above are male birds as distinguished by their bright colors and intricate patterns. In my next post, I’ll compare a few male birds with their female counterparts, and you will see a marked difference in the vibrance and saturation of the colors in each sex. Why such a drastic change in some species, and yet in others the males and females are virtually indistinguishable? Tune in to my next posting and I’ll “show and tell” the story of “Sexual Dimorphism”