Tag Archives: Chestnut sided warbler

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Chestnut Warblers in western NC

One of the coolest birds to see in the mountains of western North Carolina is the Chestnut-sided Warbler.
I spotted this little guy singing on a sunny wildflower covered slope last Sunday morning while birding at the Bass Lake Trail in Blowing Rock NC.
Like their neighbor the Canada Warbler, they’re quite curious about people and will fly in quite close to see what we are doing. I had no trouble at all trying to get a good look at this one as he foraged in the brush after tiny insects.


Chestnut-sided Warblers hunt for food by flitting between branches of shrubs and small trees, finding their six legged prey among leaves and twigs. Every now and again they’ll dart out of the brush to catch flying insects in midair. When they’re not looking for a snack you can find them singing loudly in the thickets, sending messages warning others to stay out of their territories or to attract a mate.


Primarily Chestnuts tend to nest to the north in New England however their breeding range does extend south down the narrow spine of the Appalachian mountains. They hide their nests low in dense shrubs, blackberry tangles, rhododendron stands, or even in young saplings of alder, maple, and other hardwood shrubs and trees.
They are commonly found between 3500-5000 feet along the Blue Ridge Parkway throughout May and June and will stick around until the first week of October before migrating south to Central America to spend the winter. You’ve still got plenty time to go see them this year so get out there if you can!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Chestnut sided Warbler encounter in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC

By Sally Siko

When birding in the blue ridge mountains of western North Carolina, one of my favorite species to find are the Chestnut sided Warblers.
These energetic little birds are fast movers which prove to be a challenge to photograph even in the best of lighting conditions.
I found this one singing above my head a few weeks ago. Although I’d have preferred to catch a shot or two of him at eye level it was not to be so I’ll settle for these.



In my experience, Chestnuts are affable birds which will allow you to get quite close to them and may even follow you down a trail for a few yards.
The easiest way to locate one is by listening for it’s accented-ending song which is best described as “pleased-pleased-pleased-pleased-ta-MEETCHA.”
Only male Chestnut-sided Warblers sing, although females may occasionally make song-like vocalizations. Nearly all singing is done within the male’s territory, usually from elevated perches in trees.
Fluttering from limb to branch, (often with their tails partly cocked and wings slightly drooped) males sing and forage intermittently, hopping from branch to branch.



Chestnut sided Warblers are found from April through early October in western North Carolina and during migrational periods throughout the rest of the state.
Look (and listen!) for them along the wooded edges of fields, regenerating clearcuts, forest openings, mainly in deciduous saplings and trees.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Chestnut- sided warblers on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Another great summertime bird to find off of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Chestnut- sided Warbler. These friendly, brightly colored birds live in dense habitats including old fields, shrubby areas, cut over woodlands, and stream-side thickets. Here in western N.C., they are found at the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains foraging for insects in the rhododendron patches.

Like the Canada Warbler, they’re quite curious about people and will fly in quite close to see what we are doing. I had no trouble at all trying to get a good look at this one as he foraged in the brush after tiny insects.
Chestnut-sided Warblers hunt for food by flitting between branches of shrubs and small trees, finding their six legged prey among leaves and twigs. Every now and again they’ll dart out of the brush to catch flying insects in midair.
Primarily they tend to nest to the north in New England however their breeding range does extend south down the spine of the Appalachian mountains. They hide their nests low in dense shrubs, blackberry tangles, rhododendron stands, or even in young saplings of alder, maple, and other hardwood shrubs and trees.

They are commonly found between 3500-5000 feet along the Blue Ridge Parkway throughout May and June and will stick around until the first week of October before migrating south to Central America to spend the winter.
You’ve still got plenty time to go see them this year so get out there if you can 🙂 Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast @canonusa#5ds