This species is North America's least patterned warbler. Orange-tinged crown feathers, for which this species is named, are rarely visible in the field. Depending on subspecies, typically olive-green to olive-brown above and olive gray to dull yellow below. Though not illustrated in most field guides, some western birds have a small white patch between the legs. Breast may show weak gray or olive streaking. Face marked by a dark line through the eye, thin white or yellow eye arcs, and an abbreviated pale yellow to yellow-gray supercilium. Bill is comparatively long and comes to fine sharp point. Pacific Coast birds are the most colorful, generally lacking gray tones in plumage. Interior western birds show varying amounts of gray on the head, with some fall immatures looking almost hooded like a MacGillivray's Warbler. Undertail coverts are generally brighter yellow than the rest of the underparts, particularly on widespread nominate subspecies (V. c. celata), which breeds across boreal Canada and Alaska and migrates primarily east of the Rocky Mtns. These birds are much grayer overall and may be confused with Tennessee Warbler, which has a longer, more crisp supercilium and whitish undertail coverts.

Length: 13 (cm) Wingspan: 18 (cm)

Voice:

Slurring trill, usually descending toward the end. Call is a sharp, junco-like chip note.

Habitat:

Second-growth woodlands, edges, scrubby areas, thickets. Occurs in a wide variety of wooded habitats during migration.

Behavior:

Nest is a woven cup of grasses, placed on or near ground. In migration and winter, sometimes joins mixed flocks with other warblers. Occasionally hovers in a kinglet-like fashion while gleaning insects from the undersides of leaves.

Feeding:

Gleans foliage for insects, often foraging at low levels of canopy. Also occasionally eats berries, suet, and peanut butter.