Conservation // 3 min Read

Sounds of Neotropical Migrants

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Working from home sometimes results in sitting on the back porch and listening to birds while I work. “PIT-ti-tuck… Pit-ti-tuck… PIT-ti-tuck” is one of the newest calls to grace my backyard as the summer tanagers arrive in Beaufort County. Known as neotropical migrants, these are birds that spend the winter in tropical regions of the Americas, heading to the northern hemisphere during the spring. These migrants include buntings, tanagers, warblers, and flycatchers.

Listen to the Summer Tanager:

Near the beginning of March, the first neotropical migrant to show up is the northern parula. The buzzy “triIIpeep” of this warbler is a birder’s sign that the migration has begun. I personally memorize this song as an upside-down checkmark!

Listen to the Northern Parula:

However, the migrant that many people are excited to see is the vibrantly painted bunting. Arriving in mid-April, males perch on high branches to sing their whistling tune, hoping to project their voice far enough to attract a mate.

Listen to the Painted Bunting:

There are many species that end their northern migration around Beaufort County, but some birds only make a brief stop before heading farther north to places such as the Appalachians, New England, or Canada. Below is a list of commonly seen or heard neotropical migrants at the Bluff, and where you can find them, that I recommend learning to identify by sight or sound:

• Acadian Flycatcher – Moreland Point and Maritime Loop

• Barn Swallow – Duck Pond bridge, Inland Waterway, and Lake Bales

• Black-throated Blue Warbler – River Road Preserve

• Blue Grosbeak – Moreland Point

• Eastern Kingbird – can be seen throughout most of the property, typically near water

• Eastern Wood-pewee – can be heard throughout most of the property

• Great-crested Flycatcher – can be heard throughout most of the property

• Northern Parula – can be heard throughout most parts of the property

• Painted Bunting – River Road Preserve and the marsh trail to Moreland Landing

• Prairie Warbler – Pine-oak barrens and old pastures like the Long Leaf Pine Loop

• Red-eyed Vireo – shade trees in residential areas and River Road Preserve

• Summer Tanager – can be heard throughout many parts of the property

• Yellow Warbler – wetlands and forest edges

• Yellow-throated Vireo – areas with mature trees like the Sandhill Loop Nature Trail

• Yellow-throated Warbler – can be seen throughout most of the property

Real Estate
Two-Bedroom Homes in Palmetto Bluff: Small Spaces, Big Advantages

Two-Bedroom Homes in Palmetto Bluff: Small Spaces, Big Advantages At Palmetto Bluff, life moves at a more thoughtful pace, one centered around nature, community, and well-designed spaces that invite you to slow down and savor the moment. Within this disti...

Jul 2025
coore and crenshaw

Sporting Life
What to Expect from the New Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course

Take a Peek at the Coore & Crenshaw Course at Palmetto Bluff Golf has always been more than a game at Palmetto Bluff. It is a way of experiencing the land, connecting with nature, and building community through quiet competition and shared moments. With t...

Jul 2025

Club Life
More at Moreland: An Enclave for Active Lifestyles

Moreland Village is centered around an active lifestyle that’s easily accessible to homeowners. With the Movement Studio just steps away from the Conservancy Classroom, residents can grab a coffee from Canteen, partake in pilates, then join a bluebird research...

Jul 2025
brian bryne

Conservation
Behind the Bluff with Land and Wildlife Manager: Brian Byrne

Brian’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff If you’ve ever spotted a feral pig along a trail, heard the call of a hawk overhead, or taken a peaceful walk through the Bluff’s maritime forest, you’ve likely experienced the quiet impact of Brian Byrne’s work. As the Palme...

Jul 2025
palmetto bluff home

Real Estate
Why Palmetto Bluff is the Perfect Place for a Second (or Third) Home

Why You Should Consider Investing in a Palmetto Bluff Home Some places feel like a getaway. And then there are places that feel like coming home. Palmetto Bluff manages to be both. Tucked between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, this 20,000-acre haven in t...

Jul 2025

Culture
Wild Island

This Manhattan-sized, Gilded Age enclave and National Seashore off the Florida-Georgia coast is so much more than a beachcomber’s delight.  By Alexandra Marvar “There’s one. Oh, and there’s one.” He bends down to pick up a shark tooth. Then another, and anot...

Jul 2025
south carolina food

Food & Wine
A Foodie’s Guide to the South Carolina Lowcountry

Best Things to Eat in South Carolina’s Lowcountry When it comes to Southern cuisine, no place captures the heart (and appetite) quite like the South Carolina Lowcountry. Rooted in history and layered with coastal influence, this region serves up a culinary id...

Jul 2025
palmetto bluff marissa wolf

Culture
Behind the Bluff with Membership Manager: Marissa Wolf

Marissa’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff At Palmetto Bluff, hospitality goes beyond service; it’s a way of life. For Members and visitors alike, there’s a quiet charm to the place that draws you in, makes you feel at ease, and leaves a lasting impression. Few peop...

Jul 2025

Culture
Paradise Found: Hidden Nature Trails in Palmetto Bluff

Top 7 Palmetto Bluff Nature Trails Do you ever get the feeling of wanting to escape and wander into a serene paradise? The nature trails at Palmetto Bluff afford opportunities to roam and admire the vastness of the Bluff’s 20,000 acres. Throughout the communi...

Jun 2025

Architecture & Design
Moreland Village: Laid Back Luxury

Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village feels a world away from the more traditional architecture of the iconi...

Jun 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us