>As of Oct. 30 there were still 5 species of Warblers present. In speaking
>with Adrian Dorst, who is the only one to see the Tennessee warbler, we
>appear to still be in doubt about its identity. Apparently the bird has
>yellow undertail coverts. My understanding is this has always eliminated
>Tennessee. He seems adament that the bird is not an Orange-crowned and has
>a grayish head, greenish back, broken eyering that is not very visible.... I
>know of one case of cross-breeding between Nashville and Tennessee. I wonder
>if others have any idea what he might be looking at? He has taken photos
>and hopefully they will show something diagnostic. Unfortunately for me,
>the bird will likely be gone by the weekend. I certainly enjoy looking at
>oddities.
>
Don,

If the bird has yellow undertail coverts, it is conclusively not a
Tennesee Warbler! Fall Tennessees can look very yellow on the chest, flanks,
face etc, but they always have obviously white undertail coverts. As well,
the facial pattern is striking showing a dark eye-line and paler
supercilium, they do not show a noticeable eye-ring. The description that
you give sounds like that of an Orange-crowned Warbler of the 'celata'
subspecies, the interior/eastern form. Most of the Orange-crowns on the
coast are of the yellower 'lutescens' form which is much more yellow than
'celata'. Tennessee Warbler is also quite different in shape than an
Orange-crown, due to their noticeably short tails. Another possibility you
should think about is Virginia's Warbler which has bold yellow undertail
coverts, grey head, and pale eye-ring. However, it tends to have a grey
back, conspicuously wags its tail and may show some yellow on the chest
(this is not always noticeable). I hope that the photos turn out!


Alvaro Jaramillo
Half Moon Bay, CA

alvaro at quake.net
http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html