Yellow Rumped Warbler, Dived For Shelter, Oops

We were having our breakfast when a bird flew into my garden. I wanted to see what kind it was. It was a small bird, and definitely it was not a chickadee. I got up and started to move towards the patio door to investigate further, but then suddenly – BANG.

The same bird flew out from the tree and bang to the glass in the patio door. I jumped with the bang. Okay I screamed too.

The bird landed just in front of the door and looked dead. I for sure thought he did not survive the collision. But then the spread-out wings started to fold under. He was moving. Oh thank God he was alive. Definitely he was shocked.


I observed for a while. He was sitting on his little feet but he was very motionless. Eyes closed. I started to have doubts. As later I identified, it was the Yellow-Rumped Warbler and definitely juvenile. I couldn’t tell if he was injured or not.

I waited few more minutes.

I really don’t like to bring wildlife to the house and have as a pet. The reality is wildlife has its own way of survival and we have our own issues. I like to keep them separated.

I prepared a small warm container with some tissue just in case. I was going to place him there and put him somewhere in the backyard, invisible from other predators. I gently poked him before placing him in the box just to ensure he was not injured.

To my disbelief he flew to the tree. I was relieved. The warbler was all good.

Later as I continued with my breakfast I heard him singing. I was even more relieved.


I also heard crows. This made me investigate further. I went outside I walked to the tree to see what did the warbler see in my patio door. He was still there, sitting quietly on the branch hiding.

Collecting all my information I came out with this.

The crows are known to eat baby birds. The Yellow-Rumped Warbler was a definitely a juvenile seeking shelter from crows. The fact that I heard them proves this theory.

When I looked at my patio door I saw reflection of the trees. I also saw my fridge handle that strongly resembled a hole in the tree. So when the warbler landed on the real tree he thought he saw a tree hole in my patio door and dive to hide. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so he banged and got shaken up.

It was his lucky day though, he escaped from crows and survived the collision.