Warbler Mobiles: Field Guide Art One of the most cheerful signs of spring waits until it really IS spring. Warblers feed on crawling, hopping, and flying insects. Their bodies are tiny (many are only the weight of 2 nickels) and since they're warm-blooded, they must have enough food to maintain their body temperature. So they can't risk arriving in the north before they are guaranteed of enough insects to eat. Field Guide Pages: Sibley Guide to Birds These small bird active birds have short, pointed beaks short, pointed beaks, which most of them use for picking up small insects from the leaves and branches of trees. Their coloring varies; in general, treetop species are brightly colored and ground-dwelling species are drab. Their flight is generally strong and slightly undulating. They build their cup-shaped nests on the ground or in shrubs and trees. Prothonotary warblers nest in cavities of trees. Field Guide Bird Words plumage eye arcs wing bars rufous auriculars crown supercillium eye rings undertail coverts streaks wing panel Open Your Field Guide Warblers come in almost every color of the rainbow. From brilliant reds to cerulean blue and vibrant yellows these birds are a sight to behold. Serious bird watchers learn their colors and special markings. Learning to use a field guide will help. Find a field guide and turn to the warbler section to study the diversity found in these tiny birds. Learn the special language of birders to help to "see" the special markings for each bird. In your field guide lines and arrows are used to point to these marks. Look up and learn some of the vocabulary; plumage eye arcs, wing bars, rufous, auriculars, crown, supercillium, eye rings, undertail coverts, streaks, and wing panel. Choose a Bird and Color their Plumage In your field guide look for one warbler that visits your hometown at least part of the year. (Use the maps section to find out.) Study your warbler carefully - look for distinctive markings and colors that separate your warbler from all the others. Learn the warbler's habitat: is it usually found in trees or on the ground? Are the trees deciduous, with leaves that drop in the fall, or are they evergreen? Migrating warblers are often found in different habitats (like backyards) that they wouldn't nest in. They can find food and shelter in many kinds of habitats during migration, which is lucky because they have such a long way to go and may find themselves many times very far from the "right" kinds of trees for their species. Click and print this pattern for your warbler Using the blank warbler silouette as your bird body, use colored pencils, markers, paints or crayons to create the plumage markings for your special warbler on paper. Build a Class Mobile After you have colored your warbler silhouette and learned some basic facts about the bird, cut it out. Join with your classmates to build a mobile for your classroom that celebrates the special beauty of these small migrating birds. Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form