North American field guide
Bay-breasted Warbler
Dendroica castanea
Identification
Field notes
14 cm (5-6") Common. Northern coniferous forests.
Male: chestnut crown, throat, and sides. Black face. Buffy cream patch on each side of neck. Two white wing bars.
Female: grayish streaked back. White patches on side of neck behind darker ear patch. Two white wing bars. Some chestnut on sides.
Winter and Immature: resemble Blackpoll and Pine Warblers but brighter green above. Unstreaked breast. Two white wing bars. Dark legs. Usually have some buff or chestnut on sides. Buffy or white undertail coverts.
Song: high thin "teesi-teesi-teesi-teesi".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Bay-breasted Warbler in Maine
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants · 3 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Bay-breasted-Warbler (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 7
- What was the sex of the bird ?
- Female · Unknown
- What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- None · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour were the CHEEKS ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer
Bay-breasted-Warbler (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 11 criteria · confidence 7
- What was the sex of the bird ?
- Male · Unknown
- What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- Yes · Unknown
- Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer
Bay-breasted-Warbler (Nonbreeding or Immature Plumage)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 7
- Was the bird seen singing ?
- No
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?
- Flicking · Fanning · Pointing downward · Pointing upward or cocked over its back · None · Unknown
- Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour were the CHEEKS ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like