Connecticut warbler Oporornis agilis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 5 inches
• Small, insect-eating bird frequently found near the ground
• Large for a warbler
• Thin, pointed bill
• White or buffy eye ring
• Yellow underparts
• Olive upperparts
• Yellow undertail coverts extend almost to end of tail
• Pink legs
• Males have complete gray hood; females and immatures have an olive wash across the breast and a whitish throat

Similar species:

The yellow underparts, olive upperparts, and lack of wing bars of the Connecticut Warbler are similar to Mourning, MacGillivray's, Nashville Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats. Male Mourning and MacGillivray's Warblers have black markings on the upper breast. Male Nashville Warblers have yellow throats and male Common Yellowthroats have black masks. In female and immature plumages, the Connecticut Warbler has a complete white or buff eye ring. Mourning, MacGillivray's and yellowthroats have broken eye rings. Nashvilles also have complete eye rings but are smaller and have white bellies and yellow breasts. Connecticut Warblers are bigger and have heavier bills than the other species. Connecticuts spend much of their time walking on the ground and don't seem to forage as much in shrubs and trees as the other species.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.