I had this pale yellow bird fly to a branch right above me at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson. I got one shot off before it flew away. The only thing I can find in my bird book that looks like this is a immature yellow warbler. Any help on this id would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
Are you sure this is even a warbler? The beak shape, proportions, and robust legs are more like an oriole or tanager. On the other hand, it does seem to have a gray head and possible eye-ring.
Jim, it's an Orange-crowned Warbler. Never a species with a ton of field marks, this one is particularly plain. The bill is a pointy vermivora bill (not the blunter dendroica shape of a yellow). A Nashville would show a very bold white eye ring, where this bird has none. Instead you can see a bit of the dark line through the eye that is characteristic of an Orange-crowned. Some races of OCWA have gray heads that contrast with their yellow bodies.
Discussion
8 repliesThanks,
Jim