Messy Orange-crowned Warbler looking down – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A quick glance at the bird in this photo might lead someone to think they are seeing a Yellow Warbler but to a trained eye the real identity is easily discernible. My subject was actually a slightly messy Orange-crowned Warbler perched on a branch looking down at the ground. Just a tiny hint of the orange crown is visible in this photo but I’d seen more of the crown before this photo was taken. I have a feeling that this warbler had been taking a bath before it popped out into the open earlier this week in the Wasatch Mountains and caught my attention.
Damp Orange-crowned Warbler near Canada Thistles – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The head of the warbler appeared to be damp and in this photo the orange crown is slightly more visible. The Orange-crown Warbler foraged for insects in the blooming purple wildflowers in front of it for a bit before it flew off into the dense willow thicket.
Canada Thistle – Lettuce from hell thistle – – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The wildflowers are Canada Thistles (Cirsium arvense) which are also known as Lettuce from hell thistles, field thistles, creeping thistles, plus quite a few more common names. This introduced thistle is originally from Europe and Asia and arrived in North America in the 1600’s. The spines on it look like they would tear my skin right up so I never, ever get close to these thistles. The Orange-crowned Warbler didn’t seem fazed by the spines at all. What a brave little bird!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Orange-crowned Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos.
We have a very similar looking thistle – known as a Scotch thistle here. We don’t (to my sorrow) have any Orange-crowned warblers (messy or not). Thanks for sharing their beauty.
This would have been a mystery bird for me for sure!
Lovely shots. Remarkable how well concealed that orange crown generally stays. We only see them during spring and fall migration and they do stump a lot of us, me included.