While the above photograph is of poor quality, it did give me the photograph proof I wanted to say I definitely saw my first Golden-winged Warbler on Sunday.

Golden-winged Warblers are small songbirds that are silvery gray with a slash of gold on the head and wings. They also have two white facial stripes. This one was hopping among the branches of a shrubby habitat at the north access of the Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area near Mayflower.

The world’s population of Golden-winged Warblers have declined sharply. According to AllAboutbirds.org, they now have one of the smallest populations of any bird not on the endangered species list. They are currently on the birds watch list – which lists bird species that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered with conservation action.

Arkansas has Golden-wined Warblers during the migration seasons. They breed in the shrubby, young forest habitats of the Upper Midwest and Applalachians, and winter in the open woodlands and shade-coffee plantations of Central and South America.