1 thru 3 are spring birds, and the rest are fall. This long distant migrant is a rare find here in Georgia in the fall, so I am pleased that all the fall images are from Georgia. In the fall most Blackpolls exit the continental USA in the NE and fly directly over the Atlantic Ocean to their wintering grounds in South America.
In the spring the adult male (1,2) is easily separated from the female (3), but spring Blackpolls are difficult to age. The male has a black cap, white cheeks, and black malar (sides of the throat), with bold black streaks on both upper and lower parts. The spring female has no black cap, and has less bold streaking, and varying amounts of yellow below. All plumages both spring and fall have a pair of white wing bars.
In the fall it is difficult to sex this species, but easier to separate adults from first fall birds. 4 thru 6 show how the streaking and yellow wash, both characteristics of the underside of the bird, can vary in fall birds. 6 with relatively low contrast overall, and subtle streaking below (which is best seen on the sides of the throat), is likely a first fall bird (born preceding spring). For all fall plumages, despite the amount of yellow below, the under tail will be white just as it is in all spring birds. Fall birds will not be as yellow/orange in the feet as spring birds. You can see how the amount of yellow in the feet can vary in fall birds. 5 has the least amount of yellow visible. In birds the part of the feet that grasps is the toes and the long featherless 'leg' is actually the foot itself. The back side of this foot (the sole) and the underside of the toes may be the only place you see yellow in a fall bird of this species. Notice the distinct paired white wing bars in all the fall birds, which aids in separating this species from some other fall warblers that may appear similar.
The first fall female Bay-breasted warbler, and dull Pine warblers in particular are most commonly confused with the fall Blackpoll. They are superficially similar in appearance, wing bars and all. Pine warblers will have a much longer tail, and a distinct face pattern. They also will not have the white edges to the tertial flight feathers (feathers of the wing that are closest to the back of the bird). These tertials are best seen in 6. The first fall female Bay-breasted is even easier to confuse with the fall Blackpoll because she lacks any bay on her sides, and her tail and white edged tertials appear similar. She will not have yellow on her feet however, and she will not have streaking below. 6 is a particularly dull Blackpoll with very little streaking, but subtle streaking can be seen on the sides of her throat. Fall Blackpolls will also have a more distinct small eye-line than a Bay-breasted warbler, and the face will appear subtly different, which is perhaps best learned by experience.
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