Tennessee Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Breeding male
Small, short-tailed warbler with a thin, pointy bill. Breeding males are yellow-green above with a gray cap and a pale eyebrow. The underside is plain whitish, although some have yellow-washed undersides. Note lack of strong wingbars.
© Chris S. Wood / Macaulay LibraryConnecticut, May 18, 2020Female
Small warbler with a thin, pointy bill. Breeding females are yellow-green above with a gray cap and pale eyebrow. The underside is whitish, although some have yellow-washed undersides.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, October 06, 2020Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding/immature birds are yellow-green overall, showing little contrast between the head and the back. Note thin, pointy bill, lack of distinct wingbars, and white undertail coverts.
© David Disher / Macaulay LibrarySouth Carolina, October 10, 2007Immature
Nonbreeding/immature birds are more yellow-green overall with a pale eyebrow and a yellow-washed underside. Note whiter undertail coverts compared to the breast color.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, September 22, 2020Breeding male
Gleans insects from outer foliage of trees and shrubs. Note thin, pointy bill.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 16, 2016Breeding male
Small, short-tailed warbler with a thin, pointy bill. Breeding males are yellow-green above with a gray cap and a pale eyebrow. The underside is plain whitish, although some have yellow-washed undersides. Note lack of strong wingbars.
© Tyler Ficker / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 07, 2016Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding/immature birds are yellow-green overall, showing little contrast between the head and the back. Note thin, pointy bill, lack of distinct wingbars, and white undertail coverts.
© Jean Crépeau / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 01, 2016Breeding male
Breeds in the boreal forest with evergreen and deciduous trees. Uses all types of woodlands during migration.
© Dave Slager / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, July 07, 2017Nonbreeding/immature
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibrarySan José, December 17, 2007Similar SpeciesPhiladelphia Vireo
Adult
Larger than a Tennessee Warbler with a thicker hooked bill and yellower undertail coverts.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 22, 2011Similar SpeciesOrange-crowned Warbler
Adult
Orange-crowned Warblers have a less distinct eyeline and yellower undertail coverts than Tennessee Warblers.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, October 16, 2010Similar SpeciesWarbling Vireo
Adult
Warbling Vireos have thicker hooked bills and more distinct pale eyebrows than Tennessee Warblers.
© Ryan O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 25, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-eyed Vireo
Adult
Red-eyed Vireos have a thicker hooked bill and a more obvious white eyebrow and darker gray crown than Tennessee Warblers.
© Jim Hully / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, September 02, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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