Bird Guide

Tennessee Warbler vs Virginia's Warbler

Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Tiny9 gForest

The Tennessee warbler is 11.5 cm (4.5 in) long, has a 19.69 cm (7.75 in) wingspan, and weighs roughly 10 g (0.35 oz). The breeding male has olive back, shoulders, rump and vent. The flight feathers are brownish-black. It has a slate gray neck, crown and eyeline. The underside is a gray-white. The female is similar to the male, but is much duller and is tinged with yellow and olive overall, especially on the underside. The Tennessee warbler has long wings, short tail and a thin, pointy bill. Juveniles and first-year birds are quite similar to the female.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0
Virginia's Warbler (Leiothlypis virginiae)

Virginia's Warbler

Leiothlypis virginiae

Tiny8 gShrubland

Virginia's warbler is a small bird, only 4 to 4+1⁄2 inches (100 to 110 mm) in length. It is mainly gray in color, with a lighter colored under-belly and a white eye ring. The rump and undertail coverts are yellow. They also have a yellow patch on their breast and a partially hidden dark reddish crest. Females are slightly duller, with less yellow on breast. Virginia's warbler can be easily mistaken for the rare Colima warbler, but it is smaller, has a more yellow rump, and is more widespread. Colima Warbler also lacks yellow breast patch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: HarmonyonPlanetEarth · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Tennessee Warbler and Virginia's Warbler.