Orange-Crowned Warbler

[Jim Stegall]

For the past two days I've noticed a new guy at the backyard feeder, a small, dull-green bird with no wing bands, but a tiny patch of orange on the top of his head. Using my trusty Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds I concluded that I was looking at an Orange-Crowned Warbler. According to the guide this fellow usually spends the winter a bit south of here, altough we do seem to be on the edge of his winter range and he has been spotted as far north in winter as Cape Cod.

Has anyone else seen this bird, or had any experiences with it?

[Ernie McLaney]

You might also be looking at the Ruby Crowned Kinglet. They are common winter residents in our area.
Take a look at Carol's video (see the videos tab) and check out the close ups she was able to record.
See if you are able to get a picture of your visitor and post it. If it is an Orange Crowned Warbler, that would be very cool!

[Jim Stegall]

When I first saw the little fellow I thought it was a Ruby-Crowned, but it wasn't quite right so I went in for a closer look. I'm pretty familiar with the Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, as we have one that visits the same feeder regularly (I've also seen that video, which is pretty cool). I noticed that this bird had a very different head spot and no wing bands, and that's what sent me to the Peterson's for assistance.

As luck would have it both birds were there at the same time yesterday for a few moments and let me tell you they did NOT get along well! Neither could stand to see the other get a bite in, so they spent more time attacking each other than feeding. One thing that is pretty obvious when they are together is that the orange spot is very different in color and shape from the bright red "flash" of the Ruby-Crowned, and is constantly visable, whereas the Ruby's flash comes and goes.

I've thought about trying to get a photo, and I may try that.