- Setophaga vitellina
Dendroica vitellina
Identification
Olive-greyish green upperside with yellow edging on feathers, yellow underside with medium-dark flank streaks. Complex head pattern with supercilium, arch below the eye, and stripe behind auriculars, all in yellow. Female and immatures duller.
Similar species
Prairie Warbler is more contrasty in both face and flanks and has subtly different facial pattern. It is also smaller.
Distribution
Cayman Islands and Swan Islands (part of Honduras).
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of three subspecies[1]:
- S. v. crawfordi - Little Cayman IIsland and Cayman Brac
- S. v. vitellina - Grand Cayman
- S. v. nelsoni - Swan Islands
Formerly placed in genus Dendroica.
Habitat
Dry forests, dry shrubland and urban areas.
Behaviour
Snatches insects from substrates mostly while in flight. Forages from ground to canopy.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Raffaele et al. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0713649054
