Orange-crowned warbler, Oreothlypis celata (formerly; Vermivora celata), photographed in a backyard in Houston, Texas, USA.
Oreothlypis
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 3 January 2011 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400
Question: This migratory North American mystery bird has a very large range, and the population is comprised of four subspecies. Can you identify this mystery bird species?
Response: This is an orange-crowned warbler, Oreothlypis celata (formerly; Vermivora celata). This bird is relatively "easy" to identify because it is the only small, olive-green bird with a thin, pointed beak that lacks wingbars that you'll run across in North America. But perhaps I am the only one who thinks this bird is easy to identify since this species was the first one in its family to give me "warbler neck."
This common wood-warbler can be found throughout most of North America. So widespread is its population that four subspecies have been formally recognized based on their plumage colour, size, and moult patterns.
You are invited to review all of the daily mystery birds by going to their dedicated graphic index page.
If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and (mostly) appreciative audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.
Errata (17 January 2011): The scientific name of the orange-crowned warbler (Vermivora celata) was recently changed to reflect new DNA data. The new name is now Oreothlypis celata.
