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Hello. This is my first time using the WhatBird Forums; hopefully this is done correctly...

I was out in my yard in McHenry Co., (North Central) Illinois, today, when I viewed a bird I have previously never seen. (to the extent of my awareness) I saw it sunbathing with its wings spread on the roof of my porch. It was small, about Chickadee size, and had a color pattern slightly resembling that of a Black-and-White Warbler, though instead of black, the wings had blue markings. I assume it is a Cerulean Warbler, but I would like somebody else to confirm it.

Thanks!

Yours in birding,

ZBirdNerd

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ZBirdNerd

Year List (since 5/21):

Total: 90
This Week: Eastern Meadowlark, Cockatiel Parakeet, Northern Mockingbird, Snow Goose, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Favorites: Red-Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Where abouts are you? Cerulean Is pretty particular about habitat, so you have to have just the right combination. Black-throated Blue Warbler seems to match your description fairly well, and is quite common in the eastern United States.

The Black-Throated Blue Warbler (Denroica caerulescens) definately seems to be the bird in question. I looked around again at the same location and in fact confirmed it, for it was sunbathing again. It did seem unlikely for it to be a Cerulean, they look slightly different from the rear, but Ceruleans prefer dense forest canopies. (Smithsonian, Eastern Region) I agree it is a Black-Throated Blue Warbler. I must just be right on the edge of its migrating range. Thanks!

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ZBirdNerd

Year List (since 5/21):

Total: 90
This Week: Eastern Meadowlark, Cockatiel Parakeet, Northern Mockingbird, Snow Goose, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Favorites: Red-Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Black-Crowned Night-Heron