photo by Phil Swanson

Oporornis philadelphia
L 5 1/4″ (13 cm).

Song or calls:
Song is series of slurred two-note phrases followed by two or more lower phrases.

Description: Greenish-olive above; yellow below; red-orange legs; lacks bold white eye ring (females and immatures may show a thin, nearly complete eye ring); Male has bluish-gray hood and bib; may show a little black on breast. Female and immatures have gray or brownish-gray hood.

Behavior: Mourning Warblers hop, whereas Connecticut Warblers walk.

Habitat: Migrants occur in various thickets and tall weedy areas, usually foraging close to the ground. Breeding birds found in dense undergrowth along streams.

Where in Nebraska: Uncommon spring and fall migrant in eastern Nebraska, becoming rarer westwardly. Reportedly former breeder in southeast, but no evidence of current breeding in the state.

Fun Facts: Both parents pretend to have broken wings in order to distract predators from the nest.

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