Peucedramus taeniatus
male
Despite its name and appearance, the Olive Warbler is not closely related to the wood warblers that belong to the family Parulidae. The sexes are subtly dissimilar. Adult males have a gray back and nape. The dark wings have two white wingbars, white-edged flight feathers, and a white patch at the base of the primaries. The tail is dark above with white outer feathers, and white below with dark outer tips. There is a dark mask, but the head, neck, and chest are otherwise reddish orange. The belly is gray and the undertail is white. Adult females are similar to an adult male but orange elements of the plumage are replaced by yellow. Immatures are similar to their respective adults but less colorful, and with an incomplete mask and less striking wing markings.
The Olive Warbler is a summer breeding visitor to the north of its range, present mainly from April to September. Present year-round farther south, its resident range extends into Mexico. Olive Warblers flick their wings as they forage.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.25 in (13.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Southern mountain conifer forests
STATUS Very locally common summer visitor and scarce year-round resident
VOICE Song is a trilling tuet-tuet-tuet . . . Call is a soft tui
