PHOTO LIBRARY

Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

common   fairly common   uncommon   rare   occasional   no records

 

QUICK TIPS: 1) Examine the crown - AHY/ASY males have an extensive solid black cap, HY/SY males and AHY/ASY females have a limited black cap with flecks of yellow, and HY/SY females have a mottled yellow/green crown with flecks of black 2) Look at the outer primary coverts - on HY/SY birds they are narrow and tapered with little or no dull olive edging, while on AHY/ASY birds they are broad and rounded with fairly distinct olive edging 3) Look at the rectrices - on HY/SY birds they are relatively narrow and pointed, and on AHY/ASY birds they are relatively broad and rounded, though the contrast is not as great as on some other warblers

January - July:

ASY - M Solid black cap; broad and rounded outer primary coverts and rectrices ASY - F Partial black cap; broad and rounded outer primary coverts and rectrices SY - M Partial black cap; narrow and tapered outer primary coverts and rectrices SY - F Primarily yellow-green crown; narrow and tapered outer primary coverts and rectrices

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June - December:

AHY - M Solid black cap; broad and rounded outer primary coverts and rectrices AHY - F Partial black cap; broad and rounded outer primary coverts and rectrices HY - M Partial black cap; narrow and tapered outer primary coverts and rectrices HY - F Primarily yellow-green crown; narrow and tapered outer primary coverts and rectrices

The extent of black on the crown is intermediate for after-second-year females and second-year males (generally more extensive for females); wing and tail need to be examined to determine age and sex. 

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2006

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2006

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The primary coverts lack edging and are brownish, contrasting with the greater coverts.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2006
 

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The rectrices tend to be relatively narrow and pointed, but in general their shape is much less reliable than the wing characteristics.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

 

Individuals with minimal black on the crown, such as in the photo below, are almost always second-year females, but the wing should be checked to confirm age.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006


Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2007

The solid black cap shown in the photo below is indicative of an after-hatch-year male, but to confirm age and sex it is advisable to consider the wing and tail too.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, September 2007
 

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After-second-year birds have distinct greenish edging on the primary coverts.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, September 2007
 

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The rectrices are broad and fairly rounded on after-second-year Wilson's Warblers.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, September 2007

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, August 2005

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

 

The extent of black on the crown is intermediate and very similar for after-hatch-year females and hatch-year males (generally more extensive for females); wing and tail need to be examined to determine age and sex. 

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, September 2005
 

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Hatch-year Wilson's Warblers typically have minimal edging on the primary coverts, though when fresh, they may show some greenish.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, September 2005
 

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Rectrices are relatively narrow, and generally taper toward a point.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, September 2005

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

 

Hatch-year females are easily recognizable by having little to no black on the crown.

Photos by Seabrooke Leckie, August 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, August 2005
 

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The primary coverts have minimal edging and are brownish, contrasting with the darker greater coverts.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, August 2005
 

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Rectrices are relatively narrow, and generally taper toward a point.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, August 2005

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW