Hello Butter-Butt This cute little bird, affectionately called “Butter-Butt” by locals for obvious reasons, is the Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), found in coastal North Carolina in fall and winter. Butter-Butts seem to look different depending on your viewing angle. There’s yellow crown on the top of the head and spots in the shoulder area. The yellow rump is not always visible when its covered by the wings. Here’s a female Butter-Butt, browner and duller than the male… This male Butter-Butt in early spring breeding plumage, has a black face mask and looks more vivid, doesn’t he? Note his distinct white eyeliner above and below the eye, typical of this species… Butter-Butts have some very unique feeding habits. Like other warblers, they feed on caterpillars and various insects in spring and summer. But in fall, when fewer insects are available, they switch over to eating berries, like this one foraging in a cedar tree… This individual was attracted to sunflower seeds and suet at my backyard feeder. He foraged around on the ground for spillovers … Now that spring has come, it’s time to say farewell to the Butter-Butts as they migrate northward to breeding grounds in Canada or maybe even Newfoundland. See you again next fall. There’s one more nickname that’s occasionally used for this species, “Peregrine Popcorn” in reference to being a snack for a falcon. Clever, but I don’t find that very appealing. Similar Species… Here’s another Butter-Butt –a Palm Warbler, often confused with the female Yellow-Rumped Warbler. Instead of having a yellow patch above the tail, it has a yellow patch under its tail. Palm Warbler Palm Warbler Other small-sized birds featured on this website: Hard to See >>Birds sitting on Gravestones >>Painted Bunting >>Summer Finches >>Winter Nomads >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation Winter NomadsOwl’s Nest, Part 1