The Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) and Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) are two similar looking species of warblers found in North America. They can be tricky to distinguish between for beginning birders. However, with some practice looking at key field marks, songs, habitat preferences, and range, identifying whether you have spotted an Orange-crowned Warbler versus a Tennessee Warbler becomes much easier.
In this article, we will go over the key similarities and differences between these two confusing warblers. We’ll cover how to identify them by sight and sound, when and where they can be found, and other interesting facts about each species. Understanding the nuances between the Orange-crowned Warbler and Tennessee Warbler will sharpen your warbler identification skills.
Quick Identification Tips
Here are some quick tips for telling apart an Orange-crowned Warbler from a Tennessee Warbler:
– Orange-crowned Warblers have bold white eye rings, while Tennessee Warblers have faint eye rings or none at all.
– Orange-crowned Warblers have a fairly obvious orange crown patch, which gives this species its name. Tennessee Warblers lack this orange crown.
– Tennessee Warblers have yellow undersides compared to the white undersides of Orange-crowned Warblers.
– Tennessee Warblers are smaller and more delicate overall. Orange-crowned Warblers have stockier proportions.
– The songs and call notes differ between the two species. Orange-crowned Warblers have a higher-pitched, buzzier song and call note.
– Orange-crowned Warblers breed farther north and west compared to Tennessee Warblers. Their wintering grounds also differ.
These quick differences will rule out one warbler or the other for most sightings. But to truly become an expert in differentiating these two similar species, read on for more detailed comparisons.
Range and Habitat
The breeding and wintering ranges of Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers offer some of the best clues for telling them apart. Their habitat preferences during the breeding season also differ.
Orange-crowned Warblers breed primarily in the western half of North America, from Alaska through Canada down into the western United States. They are uncommon breeders in the East. Some key breeding habitats include shrublands, early successional forests, wet thickets, and overgrown fields.
Tennessee Warblers primarily breed in the boreal forests of Canada and the northern United States. Their breeding range reaches farther east than the Orange-crowned Warbler but does not extend as far west. Tennessee Warblers breed in moist coniferous and mixed forests, especially those with dense undergrowth.
During the winter months, the ranges of these two species also show significant differences. Orange-crowned Warblers primarily winter in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and along the Pacific Coast. A few overwinter in the Southeast.
Tennessee Warblers largely winter in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Just a small number will reach the southernmost parts of Florida and Texas.
So if you spot one of these warblers during the breeding season in habitat west of the Great Plains, it’s almost certainly an Orange-crowned Warbler. Finding one in boreal forest in the Northeast or eastern Canada indicates a Tennessee Warbler. During winter, locations can also be a clue.
But since habitat preferences aren’t diagnostic and ranges can overlap, especially during migration, we need to turn to other traits for positive identification.
Physical Features and Appearance
Carefully observing the physical features and overall appearance of these warblers provides some of the best clues for telling them apart. Let’s look at some key identification points.
Size and proportions
Tennessee Warblers are slightly smaller and more delicate than Orange-crowned Warblers. Tennessee Warblers measure about 4.5-5 inches in length with wingspans around 7.5-8.5 inches. Orange-crowned Warblers are typically 5-5.5 inches in length with wingspans of 8-9 inches.
When seen side by side, Tennessee Warblers have a more slender, delicate look overall. Orange-crowned Warblers have stockier body proportions. But be careful not to put too much weight on size alone when identifying these species. Focus instead on more reliable plumage clues.
Plumage colors
The plumage patterns of Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers are quite similar. Both species have olive-green upperparts and wings. They also share yellow undertail coverts. However, Tennessee Warblers have bright yellow underparts compared to the white bellies and throats of Orange-crowned Warblers. This can be a helpful clue, especially when viewing the birds from below.
Facial patterns
Facial patterns provide some of the best clues for distinguishing Orange-crowned Warblers from Tennessee Warblers.
Orange-crowned Warblers have a bold white eye ring that really stands out. Their lore (the area between the eye and bill) is also gray.
Tennessee Warblers, in contrast, have faint or missing eye rings. Their lores are olive-green like the crown.
Orange-crowned Warblers may also show a patch of orange feathers in the center of their crown when animated or alarmed. This bright orange crown patch is usually concealed otherwise. It gives this species its name. Tennessee Warblers never exhibit an orange crown patch.
Wing bars
Both species have two whitish wing bars visible when their wings are folded. The wing bars tend to be more prominent on Tennessee Warblers. But be careful not to put too much emphasis on slight wing bar differences when identifying these species in the field.
Bill color
The bills of both Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers are dark and conical in shape. But the lower mandible color differs slightly. Orange-crowned Warblers have dark gray lower mandibles. Tennessee Warblers have flesh-colored lower mandibles with a dark tip. This can be a helpful but subtle clue.
Leg and feet color
The legs and feet of both species are black. No difference here.
By focusing on facial patterns, underpart colors, and subtle structural differences, you can reliably separate Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers when coupled with information on habitat and range. With practice, subtle differences in posture and proportions also become more apparent.
Song and Calls
Differences in vocalizations provide another important clue for identifying Orange-crowned Warblers and Tennessee Warblers. This is helpful during the breeding season when the birds are most vocal.
Orange-crowned Warbler
The song of the Orange-crowned Warbler is a fairly monotonous, buzzy trill. It lacks distinct phrases and stays on one pitch. Some describe it as similar to the sound of an insect. The song lasts 2-6 seconds.
Their call note is a high, thin “tzip.” It is louder and more emphatic sounding than the call of a Tennessee Warbler.
Here is an audio clip of an Orange-crowned Warbler singing:
[insert audio clip]
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warblers have a faster, more musical and melodious song than Orange-crowned Warblers. Their song consists of a rapid warbling series of notes up and down the scale. It includes distinct phrases that are sometimes repeated. Songs last 3-5 seconds.
The call note of the Tennessee Warbler is a soft, flat, and unemphatic “chup.” It sounds weaker than the call of an Orange-crowned Warbler.
Here is an audio clip of a Tennessee Warbler singing:
[insert audio clip]
So in summary, Orange-crowned Warblers have buzzier, insect-like songs and loud “tzip” call notes. Tennessee Warblers have more melodious, musical warbling songs and soft “chup” calls. These audio differences can help confirm identifications when coupled with visual characteristics.
Behavioral Differences
Subtle differences in behavior can provide additional clues:
– Orange-crowned Warblers forage lower in shrubs and trees compared to the higher foraging of Tennessee Warblers.
– Tennessee Warblers are more active while foraging. Orange-crowned Warblers move slowly and deliberately.
– Orange-crowned Warblers pump their tails frequently while perched. This behavior is less common in Tennessee Warblers.
– During migration, Orange-crowned Warblers tend to be solitary. Tennessee Warblers migrate in flocks more often.
However, these behavioral differences may be hard to observe in the field. Don’t rely on them too heavily for identification. Subtle behavioral traits are best used to confirm an identification made using visual and vocal clues.
Conclusion
In summary, by using a combination of plumage traits, song differences, habitat, and range, birders can reliably distinguish between the very similar Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers. The key field marks to focus on include:
Orange-crowned Warbler
– Bold white eye ring
– Gray lore
– Lacks wingbars
– Stocky proportions
– White underparts
– Sometimes shows orange crown patch
– Buzzing, insect-like song
– Loud “tzip” call
– Breeds in western North America
– Winters in southwestern U.S. and coastal areas
Tennessee Warbler
– Faint or no eye ring
– Olive-green lore
– More noticeable wingbars
– Smaller and more delicate
– Yellow underparts
– No orange crown
– Musical, melodious song
– Soft “chup” call
– Breeds in boreal forests
– Winters primarily in Mexico and Central America
Armed with knowledge of field marks, songs, habitat, and range, birders of all skill levels can master the identification of these two similar warblers. Correctly differentiating between Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers will sharpen skills and build confidence in warbler ID abilities.
