This is a Chestnut-sided Warbler in fall plumage. You can see a hint of the chestnut sides in the first photo. Note the lime green head and and noticeable white eye-ring on a gray face: all Chestnut-sideds show this in fall plumage. Most have more chestnut on the sides in fall. This, most likely, is a first fall female. Note also the white undertail coverts and mostly white underneath, visible in the flight shot. Fall immature Tennessee Warblers have greenish crowns but show a varying amount of yellowish on the underparts which contrasts with their whitish undertail coverts. The bill is different than a Chestnut-sided, more sharply pointed. Tennessees have a whitish or yellowish eyebrow and indistinct eyeline. Fall warblers are tricky to ID sometimes. You have to look carefully at all aspects of plumage as well as shape. For more help see our Stokes Field Guide To Warblers, available from amazon.com and other book retailers.
This morning a wave of little warbler migrants in our yard. Caught this Chestnut-sided Warbler just as it took off.
4 comments:
beautiful warbler photos!
Beautiful shots! Thanks!
I am confused...I have a similar shot, but everyone identified it as a juvy tennessee.
This is a Chestnut-sided Warbler in fall plumage. You can see a hint of the chestnut sides in the first photo. Note the lime green head and and noticeable white eye-ring on a gray face: all Chestnut-sideds show this in fall plumage. Most have more chestnut on the sides in fall. This, most likely, is a first fall female. Note also the white undertail coverts and mostly white underneath, visible in the flight shot.
Fall immature Tennessee Warblers have greenish crowns but show a varying amount of yellowish on the underparts which contrasts with their whitish undertail coverts. The bill is different than a Chestnut-sided, more sharply pointed. Tennessees have a whitish or yellowish eyebrow and indistinct eyeline.
Fall warblers are tricky to ID sometimes. You have to look carefully at all aspects of plumage as well as shape. For more help see our Stokes Field Guide To Warblers, available from amazon.com and other book retailers.
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