Pl. CLXVI
The Birds · Plate CLXVI
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Setophaga pensylvanica
Parulidae · Taxon 145239
| Length | Both sexes: 4.7–5.5 in (12–14 cm) |
| Wingspan | Both sexes: 7.5–8.3 in (19–21 cm) |
| Weight | Both sexes: 0.4–0.5 oz (10.7–14.3 g) |
Field marks
- Small, slim-bodied warbler with a relatively long tail, often held cocked.
- Short, dark, pointed bill; dark round eye; slender gray legs.
- Breeding adults have a yellow crown and black eye stripe framing a white cheek.
- Breeding adults show a rich chestnut flank stripe against clean white underparts.
- Dark wings bear two pale yellow wingbars; the dark tail has white outer feathers.
- Nonbreeding adults and immatures are lime-olive above, with a pale gray face, crisp white eye-ring, and little or no chestnut.
HabitatYoung deciduous regrowth, dense thickets, brushy forest edges, and overgrown fields; migrants and wintering birds also use a wider range of shrubby and forested habitats.
BehaviorFlits and hops through shrubs and saplings, gleaning insects—especially from leaf undersides—and sometimes sallying after flying prey. Often raises its tail and droops its wings while foraging.
Palette
lemon yellowchestnut brownolive greenclean whitecharcoal black