The Pine Warbler is well named — it is a bird of pine woods almost year-round, foraging methodically along the trunks and needled branches of pines in a way few other warblers do. Yellow on the throat and breast with faint blurry streaks, an olive back, and two white wing bars, it is a fairly plain warbler that many people first learn at their feeders, since it is unusually willing to eat seeds and suet. Its song is a pleasant, even, musical trill, similar to a Chipping Sparrow's but slower and sweeter.
Because it eats seeds and berries in addition to insects, the Pine Warbler is hardier than most of its family — it is one of the earliest warblers to return in spring, often in March, and a few even linger through Michigan winters where pines and feeders provide food. It breeds in pine and mixed pine forests across the state, especially where jack, red, and white pines grow, and creeps along the branches gleaning insects. Its combination of feeder-visiting habits and early arrival makes it one of the more approachable warblers.
Forages for insects along pine trunks and branches, creeping and probing among the needles and bark, and readily eats seeds, berries, and suet — an unusual ability among warblers that lets it arrive early and linger late. At feeders it takes sunflower seed, cracked corn, suet, and mealworms.
The Pine Warbler is one of the few warblers that regularly eats seeds and suet, not just insects. This flexible diet lets it visit feeders, especially in early spring and late fall, when insects are scarce.
Look for a plainish warbler with a yellow throat and breast, faint streaking, an olive back, and two white wing bars, usually foraging in pines. Its sweet, even musical trill also helps, being slower and richer than a Chipping Sparrow's.
It is among the earliest warblers to return, often in March, and stays through fall, with a few lingering into winter where pines and feeders provide food. It breeds in pine and mixed pine woods across the state.
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