Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Tennessee Warblers breed in Canada, and spend their winters in southern Mexico, and in Central and northern South America. They are rarely seen west of the Rocky Mountains. Their normal migration route is through the eastern half of the USA. Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed woodland, especially spruce, where they can find their preferred prey, the destructive Spruce Budworm. These birds nest on the ground in a cup nest.
Tennessee Warblers sometimes get 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 has yellow. Other birds sometimes confused with them are the Black-Throated Blue Warbler and the Red-Eyed Vireo.
In 2010, researchers changed this bird’s former genus (Vermivora) to Oreothlypis. Then in 2019, they changed it again to Leiothlypis. It seems like some scientists cannot seem to make up their minds about this bird.
Modern taxonomists do not recognize any subspecies of Tennessee Warbler (i.e. they are monotypic).
Despite its name, the Tennessee Warbler only appears in the state of Tennessee if it migrates through. My first meeting with this bird came near Grande Cache, Alberta (Canada) in 2005, while driving to Alaska. I didn’t meet this bird again until attending the spring migration of 2020, 2021, and 2024 on South Padre Island. There, they were a familiar sight. They became so commonplace, I often overlooked them to pursue other, less common species. My most recent encounters have been during my 2022 return to Canada tour, when I found plenty of them in those northern Boreal Forests.
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27 Photos
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: On its breeding territory along the Highway 40, the road to Grande Cache, Alberta, Canada 2005-06-02. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:02 16:49 |
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Location:
Muskeg River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD3117TenneseeWarbler |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Along the road to Grand Cache, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:02 16:56 |
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Location:
Muskeg River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD3121TenneseeWarbler |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Along the road to Grand Cache, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:02 16:56 |
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Location:
Muskeg River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD3131TenneseeWarbler |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: On its breeding territory along the Highway 40, the road to Grande Cache, Alberta, Canada 2005-06-02. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:02 16:56 |
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Location:
Muskeg River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD3137TenneseeWarbler |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Along the road to Grand Cache, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:02 16:56 |
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Location:
Muskeg River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: Cut_JCD3131TenneseeWarbler |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: I first met the Tennessee Warbler in Canada while on my 2005 Alaska expedition. The birds here in south Texas were no doubt on their way to Canada to breed. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:38 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: TenneseeWarbler_D500020-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers passing through Texas still have a lengthy journey to reach their nesting grounds in Canada. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:04 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: TenneseeWarbler_D502139-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: I first met the Tennessee Warbler in Canada while on my 2005 Alaska expedition. The birds here in south Texas were no doubt on their way to Canada to breed. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:30 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: TenneseeWarbler_D509902-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand, then I scouted the neighborhood and roadsides for birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 9:09 |
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Location:
Various Locations |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D500837-PortIsabel-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the Tennessee Warbler on its breeding grounds in northern Alberta (Canada). My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 10:28 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X4969-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the Tennessee Warbler on its breeding grounds in northern Alberta (Canada). My plan for an early start to my day chasing birds on South Padre Island backfired when a fog so heavy greeted me that my lens got coated with dew, rendering the already dark shadows where my subjects foraged were hopeless. During my last hour there, the lighting improved. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:13 10:28 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X4994-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Sleek, but understated, Tennessee Warblers were plentiful. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 13:01 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X6764-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers have been passing through the island for several weeks now. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 11:46 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X4693_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: Tennessee Warblers have been passing through the island for several weeks now. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 11:47 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X4705_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: Tennessee Warblers have been passing through the island for several weeks now. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 11:51 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X4744_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: This bird appears to have something askew with the feathers on the back of his neck. The best stop on my long drive from Fort Nelson to Watson Lake was at Summit Lake. Tennessee Warblers serenaded me during the visit. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:06 8:13 |
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Location:
Tetsa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8507351-StoneMountain.SummitLake.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: This bird appears to have something askew with the feathers on the back of his neck. The best stop on my long drive from Fort Nelson to Watson Lake was at Summit Lake. Tennessee Warblers serenaded me during the visit. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:06 8:12 |
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Location:
Tetsa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8507322-StoneMountain.SummitLake.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers came through early on migration and stayed late. I began and ended my last day on South Padre Island, visiting the grounds that treated me to so many encounters with migrant birds. Between these times I walked out to the sand flats north of the Convention Centre to look for shorebirds and terns. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:08 9:02 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_D5X7248_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: In 2005, I visited Fort Nelson’s Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest and met my first Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers. Now in 2022, though I could hear other warblers singing from the highest canopy, Tennessee Warblers were the only warblers that came down to my level. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:05 9:47 |
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Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TenneseeWarbler_8507303-FortNelson.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
|
Description: In 2005, I visited Fort Nelson’s Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest and met my first Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers. Now in 2022, though I could hear other warblers singing from the highest canopy, Tennessee Warblers were the only warblers that came down to my level. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:05 9:47 |
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Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TenneseeWarbler_8507301-FortNelson.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: While it was the rafting scoters on the lake at the Toad River Lodge that drew me into the arena to take photos, I couldn’t resist attempts to collect images of the other birds there, like this Tennessee Warbler. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:23 10:20 |
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Location:
Toad River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/400 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8503864-ToadRiver.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: I’d stopped at this location during my trip north, and now two weeks later, I wanted to see if there were any new players. Tennessee Warblers were still here singing up a storm. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:23 11:58 |
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Location:
Summit Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/640 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8503927-SummitLakeArea.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: I’d stopped at this location during my trip north, and now two weeks later, I wanted to see if there were any new players. Tennessee Warblers were still here singing up a storm. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:23 13:05 |
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Location:
Summit Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/50 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8504022-SummitLakeArea.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers were one of the most widely spread warblers I met in Canada. The best location in Fort Nelson to meet birds is Demonstration Forest at the northwest corner of town. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:24 17:12 |
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Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8504461-FortNelson |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: In these latitudes, Tennessee Warblers were commonplace. The dense woods of the Fort Saint John Community Forest was a wondrous place to meet birds, but most of them hid well in the foliage or high in the tall canopy. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:26 14:29 |
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Location:
Community Forest |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_8504784-FortSaintJohn.CommunityForest |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species. |
Date Taken: 2024:04:22 10:50 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_Z9X0993_SPI-Sheepshead |
| © 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tennessee Warbler(Leiothlypis peregrina) |
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Description: Tennessee Warblers populated the trees at Sheepshead Monday morning more than any other species. |
Date Taken: 2024:04:22 10:10 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: TennesseeWarbler_Z9X0234_SPI-Sheepshead |
| © 2024 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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