Orange-crowned Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesOrange-crowned Warbler
Adult/immature
Small warbler with a thin, pointy bill. Generally yellow-olive overall with a faint eyeline. Birds in the West are brighter than birds in the East, but the undertail coverts are always yellow.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryArizona, October 21, 2017Immature
Immature birds often grayer than adults. Head color varies regionally from gray in the East to yellow-green in the West, but they all have yellow undertail coverts (not visible in this photo). Note broken eyering and faint eyeline.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2010Adult
Forages for insects on the ground and in trees. Pokes through leaf litter, and probes bark and moss with the sharp, fine-tipped bill.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2007Adult
Western birds are brighter yellow-green with faint blurry streaking on the breast. Note thin, pointy bill and yellow undertail coverts.
© Jon Isacoff / Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 10, 2014Adult
Generally yellow-olive overall, but head color varies regionally from gray in the East to yellow-green in the West. Note broken eyering bisected by a faint eyeline.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 26, 2020Adult
Flits rapidly through shrubs, trees, vine tangles, and other vegetation as it glean insects from leaves and buds.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 01, 2002Adult
Adults have an orangish crown patch that is usually concealed and difficult to see.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 30, 2019Adult/immature
Gray-headed subspecies has a grayer head, but note faint eyeline, thin, pointy bill, and yellow undertail coverts.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 20, 2016Adult
Orange-crowned Warblers supplement their diet with fruit and nectar during the winter. Sometimes visits fruit, suet, and hummingbird feeders.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 03, 1997Immature
Dull yellow-olive overall with a thin, pointy bill. Head color varies regionally from gray in the East to yellow-green in the West, but they all have yellow undertail coverts.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 06, 2016Adult
Populations on the Channel Islands and nearby mainland tend to have streaky breasts and undertail coverts. Note thin, pointy bill.
© Nigel Voaden / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 04, 2015Adult
Sometimes visits suet feeders, especially during the winter.
© Gregory Griffith / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 01, 1994Habitat
Often found foraging in dense shrubbery and low trees. Note thin, pointy bill and yellow undertail coverts.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 17, 2016Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Breeding male
Tennessee Warblers have whiter undertail coverts and a stronger eyeline than Orange-crowned Warblers.
© Maurice Raymond / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Immature
Tennessee Warblers have whiter undertail coverts and do not have blurry streaks on the belly that Orange-crowned Warblers have.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 10, 2015Similar SpeciesPhiladelphia Vireo
Adult
Philadelphia Vireos are larger than Orange-crowned Warblers with a thicker hooked bill and a pale eyebrow.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 22, 2011Similar SpeciesCommon Yellowthroat
Female
Female Common Yellowthroats are browner above than Orange-crowned Warblers. The yellow is concentrated on the throat and undertail coverts while most Orange-crowned Warblers are entirely yellow below. Note larger bill.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 18, 2016Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Immature
Immature Northern Yellow Warblers have a cleaner face and belly than Orange-crowned Warblers and tend to be less olive colored overall. Note thicker bill.
© Michael O'Brien / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, September 04, 2016Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Adult female
Adult Northern Yellow Warblers are brighter yellow than Orange-crowned Warblers with a thicker bill.
© Terry Boswell / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, June 04, 2017Similar SpeciesNashville Warbler
Female/immature
Nashville Warblers have a distinct gray head and a complete white eyering, 2 features that Orange-crowned Warblers do not have.
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 26, 2016Similar SpeciesHutton's Vireo
Adult
Hutton's Vireos have prominent white wingbars and an eyering that Orange-crowned Warblers lack.
© Scott Olmstead / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 22, 2017Search species and articles
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