Yellow-throated warbler in Illinois

Of the 36 warbler species that pass through Illinois during migration, the Yellow-throated Warbler has always been a favorite—and thankfully, it's one of the few that also breeds here. Knowing these early arrivers often appear in April, I realized I might have a chance to photograph them amid the season's first blooms. I found a magnificent magnolia tree and waited, hoping to catch the perfect juxtaposition of bird and flower. After a long, patient vigil, the warbler finally appeared, taking a beautiful perch among the vibrant pink and white petals to deliver its bright song.