Cape May Warbler

Dendroica tigrina

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13 cm (5") Fairly common in black spruce forests; elsewhere during migration.

Male: Reddish-brown cheek patch (the only warbler with chestnut cheeks). Heavily black streaked yellow underparts. Large white wing patch.

Female: Grayish-green upperparts. short tail. Dull yellow rump. Yellow on face usually extends to side of neck. Streaked yellow breast. White undertail coverts.

Song: high "seep seep seep seep".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Laura Gooch

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Kelly Colgan Azar

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Cape May Warbler - Feb. 06, 2012

Credit: Phil Brown

Where 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.

Cape May Warbler (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

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
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · 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) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 · Fall

result:56-cape-may-warbler-female:1:1 Source: 56 Cape May Warbler (Female), row 1

Cape May Warbler (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: White or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?: Flicking · Fanning · Pointing downward · Pointing upward or cocked over its back · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Uniform · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · 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) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 · Fall

result:57-cape-may-warbler-immature:1:1 Source: 57 Cape May Warbler (Immature), row 1

Cape May Warbler (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

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 ?: Yes · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · Fall

result:55-cape-may-warbler-male:1:1 Source: 55 Cape May Warbler (Male), row 1