John asked -

> I spotted what I'm sure was an Orange-crowned warbler in my back yard
> yesterday, very drab yellowish-green bird, without wing bars but it had a
> faint but identifiable eye ring. In checking my National Geographic field
> guide and Petersons, their illustrations and descriptions have no eye ring.
> The Golden Field Guide illustration and the Stokes guide photo both however
> show a slight eye ring. Is this a variable feature for this species?

The brighter coastal variation of the Orange-crowned Warbler, referred to
mellifluously by previous generations as the *Lutescent Warbler* or
_Vermivora celata lutescens_ , has a yellow eyering the same shade as the
rest of the head. It is usually not remarked upon because it is hard to see
unless specifically looked for. When counselled to look for overall drabness
of plumage to clinch ID, one does not usually pick up on something like
an eye-ring. As for variation among races, our interior race here in central
BC shows only a very faint grayish-yellow eyering. If you really want to
nail down a separation between Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers, the best
two field marks are: 1) Yellows have dark brownish to blackish-centered upperwing
coverts which contrast noticeably with the bright yellow feather edgings;
these same feathers are greenish-yellow centered in Orange-crowneds and blend
in with the rest of the plumage; 2) Yellows have bright yellow feather edging
on the tail feathers which produce noticeable yellow patches in the tail; this
effect is lacking in Orange-crowneds.

- Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca