Identification - This bird, the most nondescript of warblers, is the size of a sparrow. Its lack of obvious field marks is a help to identification. The body appears to be a dull greenish with the upperparts olive-green and the underparts olive-yellow. Sometimes, in good light, faint streaks are visible on the breast. It has an orange crown on the top of its head which is seldom visible. Feathers under the tail are always a drab yellow.
Morsels - This bird is one of the commonest warblers in western North America. During migration, it is often spotted on ships far at sea. Suddenly, out of nowhere, it may appear hovering around the vessel. Usually exhausted it lands in the rigging or on deck to rest and sleep before continuing its journey northward. Many, however, perish in the ocean. These birds are lost waifs, casualties to inaccurate senses of direction, having overflown or strayed from their usual migration routes.
