Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata
General Description
Medium-sized warbler, 11-14 cm. Upperparts plain dusky olive-green, brighter yellow on rump and upper-tail coverts, grayer on crown and hind-neck. Crown with brown-orange patch, usually concealed. Eyes black, eyelids white or yellow, separated by dusky eye-line. Underparts greenish-yellow, faintly streaked. No wing bars. Bill narrowly wedge-shaped, very acute at tip. Sexes similar in color and pattern, but females tend to be duller with less distinct or absent crown-patch. (Soggle, Gilbert, and Van Riper III 1994).
Distribution
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 3532
Montana CountiesBeaverhead, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone
Migration
In Bozeman area normal migration periods are May 10-25 and late Aug-Sep 20.
Habitat
Prefers habitats with shrubs and low vegetation, often in aspen forest or in riparian or chaparral areas which provide cover for its nest. (Soggle, Gilbert and Van Riper III 1994)
Food Habits
Gleans insects from leaves, blossoms, and the tips of boughs, but also eats some berries and fruit and is attracted to suet feeders in the winter. (Soggle, Gilbert and Van Riper III 1994).
Reproductive Characteristics
Nesting is from early Jun to mid- August. Nests well concealed, often on or near ground or in small crevices or depression in ground/rock, along shady hillside, on slopes or steep banks, sheltered by overhanging vegetation. Also found in shrubby bushes, ferns, vines. Nest is a small open cup. Eggs are short, ovate, white or creamy in color with reddish-brown or chestnut speckling. Clutch size typically 4-5 eggs.