The Orange-crowned Warblers That Aren't Very Orange-crowned

I am a slow learner. I've gotten to the point where I can recognize most of the common bird species along the trails I walk most often, but the rarer birds and seasonal migrants throw me for a loop every darn time. In the spring it was the flycatchers (although I saw three new species back then). But now it is August and some of the earliest fall migrants are starting to pass through. And it is the warblers giving me fits. So far, no warbler is giving me more trouble than the Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata).

The more experienced birders have been very patient with me. I keep taking fuzzy pictures of warblers I can't identify (like the one above), and once again they tell me it's an Orange-crowned Warbler, and in my mind I say "but where's the orange crown??" The males do in fact have some orange-colored feathers on their head, but they are rarely seen.

That identification immediately led me to realize that I had photographed this species a few other times, but was frustrated by my failure to accurately identify the birds. I went searching and found even better pictures in the archives. I just need to remember that if I see a yellow-olive colored bird with a thin bill and half-arcs around the eyes, and NO ORANGE, it logically must be an Orange-crowned Warbler!

Orange-crowned Warbler on the Tuolumne River

Sometimes you only get a single chance. I saw what I think was an Orange-crowned Warbler in a wild Elderberry bush on my walk today along the Tuolumne River. I managed a single shot before it vacated the premises, and though I walked past the thicket three more times, I didn't see it again. I don't know my warblers well, but I'm assuming it is an Oreothlypis celata because of the broken eye-ring and overall olive-yellow color. As always, I welcome gentle correction.

The Orange-crowned Warblers are found across North America, migrating from Mexico and the southeastern United States to Canada and Alaska for breeding. There are orange feathers on the head, but they aren't seen very often.

The Elderberry bush where I saw the bird is kind of a unique spot. It's huge, with a trail of use running through the middle, like a bower. I can stand inside and it works like a bird blind. It's a favorite feeding spot in the fall, and I've seen Vireos, Phainopeplas, Scrub Jays, and all manner of Finches and Sparrows. The Elderberry is also habitat for one of our endangered species, the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus). I have yet to see one, but part of the program to protect them requires the preservation of native Elderberry plants. Since the shrubs make good environments for numerous birds, it's a win-win situation.

Source: https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Invertebrates/es_valley_elderberry_longhorn_beetle.htm

https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Invertebrates/es_valley_elderberry_longhorn_beetle.htm