Tennessee Warblers In Texas

Leiothlypis peregrina

The Tennessee Warbler breeds in Canada and spends winter in central and northern South America. Rarely seen west of the Rocky Mountains, its normal migration route is through the eastern half of the USA. Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed woodland, especially spruce. Tennessee Warblers nest on the ground, in a cup nest. The former name for this bird’s genus (Vermivora) was changed in 2010 to Oreothlypis . Then in 2019 it was changed again to Leiothlypis. It seems like some scientists can’t seem to make up their minds.

This bird is sometimes confused with Orange-Crowned Warblers. One key identifying field mark is the under-tail coverts. Those on the Tennessee Warbler are white, while the Orange-Crowned are yellow. Despite its name, the Tennessee Warbler only sees the state of Tennessee if it migrates through.

The birds whose images appear in this gallery were those I met in south Texas. My first encounter with this species was during my 2005 expedition through Canada and Alaska. You can see those images in the <Species Gallery>.