2 Confusing Fall Warblers: August 2022

Warblers look their best in spring as they head north to their various breeding grounds.

Black-throated Blue Warbler, male
Cape May Warbler (male)
Yellow Warbler (male)

By August, many of their feathers are damaged and colours begin to fade.

The Peterson Field Guide to the Birds has 28 drawings of “confusing fall warblers”.

I saw two species today at Ashbridge’s Bay which were not immediately easily identifiable.

The first looked just like a Black and White Warbler with a striped crown and white stripes on the back. The problem was that there was an orange colour on the underparts. I assume that this colour is either a stain or aging feathers turning colour and that this is a Black and White Warbler.

Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler

The second looks like a Cape May Warbler:

Cape May Warbler in spring

but lacks the chestnut cheek colour. I assume that this is a Cape May Warbler and that the cheek colour has faded over the summer.

Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler (yellowish rump is a Cape May characteristic)
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler

Other birds:

Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Mallards
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Mallards
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Goldfinch (female)
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Mallard
Northern Cardinal (male)

NATURE POETRY\

The farmer hastens from the heat;
The weary plough-horse droops his head;
The cattle all at noon retreat,
And ruminate beneath the shade.       – George Moses Horton (ca. 1798–ca. 1883)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “2 Confusing Fall Warblers: August 2022

  1. rosemarie fischer

    Miles,these warblers are still gorgeous……don’t show them to the turkeys,they might get jealous……..
    many thanks……….

    Reply

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