Tennessee Warbler

LC - Least Concern

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

not listed

The breeding male is bright olive-green on the back, wings, and rump. The head and nape of neck are pale a bluish-gray. The eyeline is black and the supercilium (eyebrow) is white. The underparts are all white but there may be a slight yellowish wash on the flanks or breast. The tail and wing feathers are dark gray. The non-breeding male is duller above with a grayish-green head and nape and a yellowish wash on the throat and breast.

The breeding female is similar to the male but has an olive-gray head and nape of neck, dusky eyeline, yellow eyebrow, and a yellowish wash on the throat and breast. The nonbreeding female has yellow underparts except for the undertail coverts, which are pale yellow.

4½″ to 5″ in length

8″ wingspan

A three-part call: four or five sharp notes followed by three double notes then eight or ten quick, higher-pitched notes, all lasting about four seconds; ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka swit-swit-swit chew-chew-chew-chew-chew-chew-chew-chew.

Forest openings with tall shrubs and young deciduous trees.

Late April to mid-June and mid-July to late October

Small insects, especially spruce budworm (Choristoneura sp.), berry juice and small berries, seeds, and flower nectar.

Common to abundant migrant, rare breeder in

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

When Tennessee Warbler and Nashville Warbler were originally described in 1811 they were placed in the genus Sylvia. Later, that genus was restricted to Old World species and in 1929 they were moved to the genus Vermivora. More recently, several closely related Vermivora species were separated from that genus and placed in the genus Oreothlypis. In 2008, the new genus Leiothlypis was proposed to include Tennessee Warbler as the type species along with Nashville Warbler and four other species. The change was initially rejected but was finally accepted in 2019.

Tennesse Warbler spotted in southern MN

I had never seen one before. The bird groups I belong to say it is an immature Tennesee Warbler. Spotted in location almost to Iowa. South central Minnesota. He was eating on the canas flowers.

Location: Kiester, MN. In my yard.

I had never seen one before. The bird groups I belong to say it is an immature Tennesee Warbler. Spotted in location almost to Iowa. South central Minnesota. He was eating on the canas flowers.