19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Tennessee Warbler plucks fruit

A local arboretum features many native plants, including Fringe-tree (Chionanthus virginicus). The Fringe-tree in the image and several nearby were loaded with fruit, which drew a constant parade of migrant fall warblers and thrushes. While the larger thrushes - Swainson's Thrush, mostly - would swallow the fruit whole, the smaller warblers poked and peeled the fruit, and ate the pulp and liquid within. This is a Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina, which was the most frequent warbler visitor. Cape May Warblers (Setophaga tigrina) also plundered the fruit, along with a few other species.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Westerville, Ohio, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Jim McCormac