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)