Adult Description

• Size: 17-19 cm (7-7 in)

• Wingspan: 31 cm (12 in)

• Weight: 29-43 g (1.02-1.52 ounces)

• Medium-sized songbird.

• Long tail.

• Rather thin, straight, pointed bill.

• One large or two small wingbars on each dark wing.

• Orange or orange-yellow.

• Male bright orange with black back, throat, top of head, and nape, with a slender stripe through eye.

• Upper bill dark, with bluish cutting edges; lower mandible bluish gray, dull white at tip.

• Eyes dark brown.

• Legs and feet gray.

Sex Differences

Male brightly colored with orange underside and face, black back, head, and throat; female duller, with pale underparts, and without black.

Male

Crown, nape, and back black; remainder of head and underparts orange-yellow. Black eyeline and black on chin and center of throat. Rump orange-yellow to yellow. Middle tail feather black, the rest yellow, tipped with dusky or black. Wing feathers black, edged white; large white patch on wing

Female

Pale grayish brownish to yellowish upperparts, with indistinct dark streaking, but without black. Yellowish or dull greenish gray underparts, becoming paler on belly. Throat often with some black. Wings gray-brown, with one or two indistinct wingbars.

Immature

Juvenile resembles adult female but is generally brighter yellow below, and usually lacks black feathers. Immature male with orange-yellow face, a black bib, black stripe through eyes, a dusky top of head and back of neck, striped back, and orange tail. Wings dusky with two white wingbars. Immature female resembles adult female.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Taxonomy