| Bay-breasted Warbler Identification Tips |
| (Credit: U. S. Geological Survey) |
| General
Information - Small, active, insect-eating bird - White wing bars - Thin, pointed bill - White spots visible on underside of tail - Black legs Adult male alternate - Brown crown, upper breast and sides - Black face - Buffy patch on side of neck - Whitish underparts - Female in alternate plumage similar to male but duller with reduced rust on sides Basic and immature - Greenish crown, nape and back with thin black streaks - Indistinct supercilium - Breast somewhat paler than upperparts - Creamy belly and undertail coverts - Some rust may be present on sides Similar species In alternate plumage, the only other warbler with rusty sides is the Chestnut-sided Warbler but it has a yellow crown and white throat. Basic (fall) and immature plumages are very dull and most similar to Blackpoll and Pine Warblers. The Blackpoll Warbler has yellow legs, white undertail coverts, and a streakier breast. Pine Warbler lacks black streaks on the back and is often yellower on the throat and breast. Often, Bay-breasted Warblers retain a trace of rusty sides in the fall. |
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