I don’t know if this Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) that I spotted last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was in a transitional plumage stage, but it looked awfully scraggly to me. The colors on the warbler’s face and body were mottled, but the yellow patches on its chest helped me to identify it as a Yellow-rumped Warbler.
I feel very fortunate when I am able to get any shots of a warbler. The trees are now covered in leaves and I can’t help but feel a bit of frustration when I can hear all kinds of birds singing, but can’t spot them. That’s the reality for a wildlife photographer—sometimes all I can do is watch, listen, and wait patiently, hoping that a subject will come into view.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wonderful photos, Mike. I remember once taking a similar photo of a scraggly male cardinal who was in the molting phase – he’d really lost his glorious red color. Not only is it hard to catch a glimpse of warblers because of the foliage, but these are great shots of a bird that moves pretty fast.
Thanks. Molting birds definitely look “unusual.” Warblers definitely move fast, though I must admit that it’s more frustrating to me when they don’t move and sing in place. At least when they move, I have a better chance of detecting them. 🙂
thank you for sharing these images…love them so very much, especially the scraggly-ness
I love to photograph all creatures, even the ones that are less than “perfect,” like this little bird that was a bit bedraggled. 🙂
The slight shades of yellow are beautiful.