Cape May Warbler - Setophaga tigrina
Cape May Warbler has a partial preformative molt, and partial prealternate molts that are limited to body feathers. Although there can be a fair amount of variation among individuals, age and sex can usually be determined by plumage.
Quick tips
- Check the wing - on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) individuals there is usually a contrast between brownish primary coverts and the darker and fresher greater coverts, whereas the colour and wear is more uniform on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds, with yellowish edging on both the primary and greater coverts.
- In alternate plumage, examine the cheeks - DCA (ASY) males have a bold chestnut patch, while on FCA (SY) males it is present but less prominent, and on females of all ages they are gray.
- Look at the tail - on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) birds the rectrices are typically relatively narrow and pointed, while on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds they tend to be broader and more rounded; FCF/FCA (HY/SY) females tend to have smaller white patches, but other age/sex classes show considerable overlap.
Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2016). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)
- Reference (6)
- Supplemental (3)
- Contributed (10)
The molt categories displayed below may be filtered by month.
Click on any image below to bring up the side-by-side comparison tool.
Individuals not in molt
| FCJ - (HY: June - August) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brownish above and grayish with dark streaking below | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| FCF - (HY: June - December; SY January - April) | ||
| Brownish primary coverts contrasting with darker grayish greater coverts; rectrices somewhat narrow and pointed; underparts generally grayish and lightly streaked (F) or with a yellowish wash and dark streaks (M) | ||
| M |
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| FCA - (SY: February - August) | ||
| Brownish primary coverts contrasting with darker grayish greater coverts; rectrices somewhat narrow and pointed; underparts generally grayish and lightly streaked (F) or yellow with dark streaks (M); crown grayish (F) or dark brown (M) | ||
| M |
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| F |
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| DCB - (AHY: June - December; ASY January - April) | ||
| Primary coverts similar to great coverts in color and wear; rectrices somewhat broad and rounded; underparts generally grayish and lightly streaked (F) or yellowish and moderately to heavily streaked (M) | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| DCA - (ASY: February - August) | ||
| Primary coverts similar to great coverts in color and wear; rectrices somewhat broad and rounded; underparts generally grayish and lightly streaked (F) or yellowish and moderately to heavily streaked (M); crown grayish (F) or blackish (M) | ||
| M |
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Individuals in active molt
| FPJ - (HY: June - July) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Similar to FCJ; some natal down remaining and/or juvenile flight feathers still growing in | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| FPF - (HY: June - August) | ||
| Similar to FCF; median and greater coverts and often the greater alula being replaced | ||
| F |
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| FPA - (SY: January - May) | ||
| Similar to FCF; some head and body feathers being replaced | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| SPB - (SY: June - September) | ||
| Flight feathers being replaced, with retained juvenile primaries, secondaries, and/or primary coverts distinctly pale brownish and very worn | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| DPB - (AHY: June - September) | ||
| Flight feathers being replaced, with retained primaries, secondaries, and/or primary coverts either distinctly adult (relatively dark, less worn) or intermediate | ||
| F |
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| DPA - (ASY: January - May) | ||
| Similar to DCB; some head and body feathers being replaced | ||
| No images available yet | ||
Applicable unknown plumage/age classes
| Molt classes | Age | Months | Key traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-FPF / UPU (FPF, SPB, DPB) | U | June - August | Undergoing preformative or prebasic molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FCF / UCU (FCF, SCB, DCB) | U/AHY | June - April | In formative or basic plumage (molt completed), but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FPA / UPA (FPA, DPA) | AHY | January - May | Undergoing prealternate molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FCA / UCA (FCA, DCA) | AHY | February - August | In alternate plumage (molt completed), but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
Number of species: 41
Select a species:
Mourning Dove
Alder Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Great Crested Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Cedar Waxwing
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Lincoln's Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
Alder Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Great Crested Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Cedar Waxwing
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Lincoln's Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
