Fall Warblers: Confusing or Not?

Depending upon where you live in North America, warbler migration has begun. Tennessee and Nashville warblers are among the early birds to head south, while bay-breasteds and others are relative laggards. Fall migration, unfortunately, isn’t heralded with the dawn chorus of spring; the birds are not helping us identify them with their distinctive songs. Even so, there are more warblers heading south each fall than head north each spring because of the addition of hatch-year birds who have not yet faced the perils of migration. The density of birds to be watched suggests better birding during fall than spring—until someone mentions “confusing fall warblers.” To a large extent, though, the challenge of fall warblers is hatch-year birds in juvenal plumage, which may or may not resemble their parents’ appearance. Here’s a quiz we hope will prepare you to enjoy fall warbler watching.