Cerulean Warbler

Status Rare vagrant. References to this species in the nineteenth century are possibly the result of its superficial resemblance of immatures to the Tennessee Warbler, which was not noted until listed by Downs (1888). The first modern record comes from Sable Island, where a male was identified by Christel and Norman Bell on 6 June 1968. Since then, there have been eight spring birds, between 18 May and 14 June, and six fall migrants between 16 August and mid-October. Among these, single individuals occurred at Sable Island, Cape Sable, the inner Tusket Islands and Sydney; one was killed by gulls on Lobster Bay, Yarmouth County; three were on Brier Island; and five were on Seal Island. Only one was photographically documented: a female on Seal Island on 16 August 1983 (I. A. McLaren).

Remarks Cerulean Warblers breed north to southwestern Quebec and northern New Jersey, and their occasional presence as vagrants is not unexpected. Adult males are unmistakable. The bluish and greenish tones, strong white wing bars, pale eyebrow stripe and unstreaked backs of females and immatures are together diagnostic.