Coastal Carolina

Vermivora celata HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.25 inches * Small, active, insect-eating bird * Thin, very pointed bill * Indistinct yellow supercilium * Indistinct broken eye ring * Grayish to olive head, back and wings * No wing bars * Yellow to dull yellow/olive underparts with blurry, indistinct streaks on breast * Yellow undertail coverts * Orange crown patch rarely visible * Females and immatures somewhat duller * Considerable variation in plumage with western birds being somewhat yellower and eastern birds grayer Similar species: The Orange-crowned Warbler is extremely nondescript. In fact, this is one of the best field marks for identifying it! Other warblers have wing bars, black streaking below, brighter underparts or distinctive face patterns. The yellow undertail coverts and blurry streaks on the breast separate it from the very similar fall-plumaged Tennessee Warbler.

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Seiurus aurocapillus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5 inches * Small, ground-dwelling, insect-eating bird * Thin, pointed bill * White eye ring * Orange central crown stripe with black border * White underparts with dense black streaking * Olive upperparts * Pink legs Similar species: The Ovenbird is most often seen as it walks along the forest floor. It might be confused with a sparrow but the bill is too narrow and the upperparts lack streaking and spotting. Other ground-dwelling warblers with streaked underparts are the waterthrushes but they constantly wag their tails and have white or yellow superciliums and lack eye rings.

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Protonotaria citrea HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.75 inches * Small, active, insect-eating bird * Thin pointed bill * Often inhabits swampy areas * Golden-orange head in males, yellow in females and immatures * Olive back * Unstreaked yellow breast and underparts * White undertail coverts * Blue-gray wings and tail * White spots in tail * Black legs Similar species: The unstreaked underparts, plain yellow (or orange) head and breast, and lack of wing bars separate this species from most other warblers. The female Yellow Warbler has yellowish, not blue-gray wings and yellow undertail coverts. Blue-winged Warbler has black eyeline and wing bars.

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Dendroica petechia HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4 inches * Small, active, insect-eating bird * Thin, pointed bill * Mostly yellow plumage * Upperparts greenish-yellow * Greenish-yellow wings and tail with yellow feather edges * Plain yellow face with yellow eye ring surrounding dark eye * Yellowish legs Adult male: * Plumage golden yellow * Rusty streaks on breast and flanks Female and immature: * Plain yellow plumage * Streaks on breast absent or barely noticeable * Some birds have pale gray wash to plumage (southwestern United States) Similar species: The male Yellow Warbler is easily recognized by its golden yellow plumage and rusty streaks on the breast. Females and immatures are similar to other mostly yellow warblers. Prothonotary Warblers have blue-gray, not yellowish wings and white undertail coverts. Wilson's and Hooded Warblers have a yellow supercilium and a more capped appearance. Blue-winged and Orange-crowned Warblers have dark eyelines.

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Icteria virens HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6.25 inches * The largest warbler * Thick bill * White spectacles * Yellow throat and breast * Whitish belly and undertail coverts * Olive upperparts * Fairly long tail * Dark legs * Females and males similar in plumage Similar species: The Yellow-breasted Chat is much larger than any other warbler. Its yellow throat and breast, olive upperparts and white spectacles make it unlikely to be confused with any other bird.

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Dendroica coronata Female shown here. HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.75 inches * Small, active bird * Bright yellow rump * Thin, pointed bill-but sturdier and thicker than most warblers * White spots in tail * Winters farther north than other warblers * Eastern (formerly called "Myrtle Warbler") and western forms (formerly called "Audubon's Warbler") were previously separate species Adult male-eastern(Myrtle Warbler): * Black mask * White supercilium and broken eye ring * Small, yellow, crown patch * Blue-gray crown, nape, back and wing coverts with black streaks * White throat * Yellow patch at side of breast * Black patches on upper breast extend as streaks onto flanks * White underparts * White wing bars Basic, female and immature-eastern(Myrtle Warbler): * Broken eye ring * Head and back brown to brownish-gray with black streaks on back (browner in the fall) * Indistinct to absent yellow patch on side of breast * Blurry dark streaking on breast and flanks * White throat * White wing bars Adult male-western(Audubon's Warbler): * Dark gray head and back * Broken eye ring * Small, yellow, crown patch * Yellow throat * Yellow patch at side of breast * Black patches on upper breast extend as streaks onto flanks * White underparts * White wing patch Basic, female and immature-western(Audubon's Warbler): * Broken eye ring * Head and back brown to brownish-gray with black streaks on back * Indistinct to absent yellow patch on side of breast * Blurry dark streaking on breast and flanks * Yellow to buffy throat * White wing bars Similar species: The male Yellow-rumped Warbler is quite distinctive with its yellow patches at the sides of the breast and black upper breast. Magnolia Warblers have yellow bellies. Females and immatures are less colorful and more difficult to identify. The often obvious yellow rump is brighter than other species with yellow rumps (Magnolia, Palm, and Cape May). When present, the yellow patches at the sides of the breast are not found in these other species. Cape May Warbler has finer and more extensive streaking on the breast and a yellow neck patch. Palm Warbler has yellow undertail coverts and actively pumps its tail. Magnolia Warblers have much more yellow below.

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