Bird Description

Uncommon breeder in evergreen forest, particularly spruce. On migration uses many habitats, but favors cedars and often drinks nectar from flowering trees. Sometimes occurs in small groups. Varied and sometimes nondescript appearance may confuse. Song is short, a series of very high insect-like 'seet' notes. ID: Distintive shape. Fat, pot-bellied bird with a small head that often looks pointed. Bill is narrow, pointed and, importantly, slightly downcurved. Tail is short and narrow. Head has poorly defined eyestripe and supercilium with broken eyelids, a pattern shared by few. Underparts always have some diffuse streaking. One of few warblers with yellow-green on rump. Ad ? br: everyting bold and bright with red-brown ear coverts. Dull version in fall. ?/imm ?: duller with gray ear coverts, narrower wing bars. Imm ?: sometimes confusing, drab gray and olive toned with diffuse breast streaks and weak wing bars. Rump greener, but remember shape and head pattern!