Black and white warblers, take 2

My daughter and I saw this little, streaky bird against streaky bark yesterday. I’d glimpsed one last week, but it didn’t stay around long. This time there were a pair of them working in a birch tree, along with a red-eyed vireo that insisted on staying hidden in leaves most of the time.

I was glad we got a better look this time! They’re so small that at first sight they’re just a movement out of the corner of your eye.

They worked their way up and down the tree harvesting insects.

I remember reading that chickadees have many more receptors in their eyes than we do, so when they see bark, it’s a rich, insect-encrusted feast. These warblers must be the same way. They seemed to find plenty to keep them there, though personally I never saw a bug.