Tennessee warbler

Tennessee warbler perched on a black feeder pole, olive-green back, pale yellow throat, dark eye line and thin pointed bill

The Tennessee warbler is a small, plain warbler, olive-green above and pale yellow below, with a thin pointed bill, a dark line through the eye, and a pale stripe above it. In fall the colours soften, and it is easy to mistake for an orange-crowned warbler.

Tennessee warblers nest in the northern boreal forest and are mostly seen in southern Manitoba as they pass through, in mid to late May and again from late August into September. In spring the males sing a loud, bright, three-part song from high in the treetops, which is much easier to hear than the bird is to find. The name is a small mix-up: it comes from the state where one was first collected, even though the bird only passes through there and nests far to the north.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the Tennessee warbler page at All About Birds.

A Tennessee warbler pausing on a feeder pole in early September 2019, on its way south for the winter.

Field notes in photographs

  • Tennessee warbler perched on a black feeder pole, olive-green back, pale yellow throat, dark eye line and thin pointed bill

Tennessee warbler Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the Tennessee warbler in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the Tennessee warbler nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the Tennessee warbler in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield and the Boreal Plains (gold) and passing through the Prairies in spring and fall (lilac). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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