Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata
Yellow-rumped Warbler has a partial preformative molt and partial prealternate molts that typically includes some of the greater coverts. Sex can generally be differentiated by plumage, although less reliably so for FCF (HY/SY) individuals, some of which are best left as sex unknown.
The two subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's Warbler, S.c. auduboni; Myrtle Warbler, S.c. coronata) are generally separable by plumage; guidelines for age and sex determination are believed to be largely applicable to both.
Quick tips
- Examine the primary coverts - on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) individuals, they are somewhat tapered and brownish with minimal edging, contrasting (especially by spring) with the darker greater coverts; on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) individuals, they are more rounded and darker with distinct grayish edging.
- Carefully consider the greater coverts - in basic plumage, the presence of a molt limit between darker inner feathers and unreplaced paler outer feathers indicates FCF (HY/SY), but note that uniformly fresh greater coverts occur in both DCB (AHY/ASY) and most FCF (HY/SY) birds. In alternate plumage, beware that most individuals have a mix of formative/basic and alternate feathers in the greater coverts; the only safe indicator for FCA (SY) is the presence of three generations of feathers among the greater coverts, with the outermost feather(s) notably older and duller than the others.
- Look at the back - it is bluish-gray on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) males (sometimes with a bit of brown in basic plumage), a mix of brown and blue-gray on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) females and FCF/FCA (HY/SY) males, and mostly brownish on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) females.
- Examine the uppertail coverts - they have broad black centres with mostly blue edging on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) males, moderately large black centres with a mix of brown and blue edging on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) females and FCF/FCA (HY/SY) males, and narrow black centres with mostly brown edging on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) females.
- Check the shape of the outer rectrices - on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) birds they are sometimes relatively narrow and pointed, while on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds they tend to be broader and more rounded, but relatively many intermediates occur.
Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2016). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)
- Reference (9)
- Supplemental (11)
- Contributed (29)
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: May - August) | ||||||||||||
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| Brownish above with fairly heavy streaking below | ||||||||||||
| U |
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| FCF - (HY: June - December; SY January - April) | ||||||||||||
| Primary coverts relatively narrow and brownish with little or no edging, contrasting with dark gray greater coverts; back largely brownish (F) or mix of brown and blue-gray (M); uppertail coverts with narrow black centres and mostly brown edging (F) or moderately large black centres and a mix of brown and blue edging (M) | ||||||||||||
| M |
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| F |
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| FCA - (SY: March - September) | ||||||||||||
| Primary coverts relatively narrow and brownish with little or no edging, contrasting with dark gray greater coverts; grayish auricular and crown (F) or blackish auricular and yellow crown (M); back largely brownish (F) or mix of brown and blue-gray (M); uppertail coverts with narrow black centres and mostly brown edging (F) or moderately large black centres and a mix of brown and blue edging (M) | ||||||||||||
| M |
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| F |
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| DCB - (AHY: July - December; ASY January - April) | ||||||||||||
| Primary coverts relatively broad and grayish with bluish edging, only slightly paler than greater coverts; back largely bluish gray (M) or with some brown mixed in (F); uppertail coverts with moderately large black centres and a mix of brown and blue edging (F) or broad black centres and mostly blue edging (M) | ||||||||||||
| M |
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| F |
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| DCA - (ASY: March - September) | ||||||||||||
| Primary coverts relatively broad and grayish with bluish edging, only slightly paler than greater coverts; gray auricular and crown (F) or black auricular and yellow crown (M); back largely bluish gray (M) or with some brown mixed in (F); uppertail coverts with moderately large black centres and a mix of brown and blue edging (F) or broad black centres and mostly blue edging (M) | ||||||||||||
| M |
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| F |
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Individuals in active molt
| FPJ - (HY: May - August) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Similar to FCJ; some natal down remaining and/or juvenile flight feathers still growing in | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| FPF - (HY: June - September) | ||
| Similar to FCF; median and most to all greater coverts and sometimes the greater alula being replaced | ||
| F |
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| FPA - (HY: December - December; SY January - May) | ||
| Similar to FCA; head and body feathers, and usually a few to most greater coverts being replaced | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| SPB - (SY: July - 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: July - September) | ||
| Flight feathers being replaced, with retained primaries, secondaries, and/or primary coverts either distinctly adult (generally gray, less worn) or intermediate | ||
| No images available yet | ||
| DPA - (AHY: December - December; ASY January - May) | ||
| Similar to DCA; head and body feathers, and usually a few to all greater coverts being replaced | ||
| No images available yet | ||
Applicable unknown plumage/age classes
| Molt classes | Age | Months | Key traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-FPF / UPU (FPF, SPB, DPB) | U | July - September | Undergoing preformative or prebasic molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FCF / UCU (FCF, SCB, DCB) | U/AHY | July - April | In formative or basic plumage (molt completed), but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FPA / UPA (FPA, DPA) | AHY | December - May | Undergoing prealternate molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
| M-FCA / UCA (FCA, DCA) | AHY | March - September | In alternate plumage (molt completed), but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
Number of species: 41
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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
