Audubon's Warbler (Setophaga [coronata] auduboni)

Audubon's Warbler (Setophaga [coronata] auduboni)

Audubon's Warbler is a western bird, currently lumped with the eastern Myrtle Warbler as a subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler. Whether Audubon's should be officially resplit from Myrtle is a subject of debate, but regardless, it's a pretty rare bird for North Carolina. This adult female returned to Judy Murray's yard in suburban Chapel Hill for a second winter.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/4/06.

Presumably the same bird, at Judy Murray's suet cake feeder a year earlier.

Chapel Hill, NC 1/18/05.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.