Kennesaw Mountain. 7/22/2015.

This foraging view shows the lemon wash on the underside of this Cerulean. In fall migration (July is the start of this for this species!) only the adult male plumage lacks a lemon wash. When present the extent of the lemon wash can be somewhat variable. The lack of evidence of even a partial necklace, and no noticeable side streaking indicate this is a female, so this helps eliminate the first fall male. The retrices (tail feathers) appear somewhat pointed rather than rounded at their tips indicating this bird is likely a first fall female. Other views of this encounter showing more of the dorsal aspect further confirm this is a female.

Notice the very short tail extension beyond the undertail coverts. This is characteristic of this species. This plumage can be confused with the first fall female B1ackburn1an plumage. The latter will have a much longer tail extension and also will show a connection between the lightly colored supercilium (stripe above the eye) and the lighter areas of the throat which results in a distinctly separate auricular area. In the Cerulean there is no such ‘connection’. Also the B1ackburn1an does not have this lemon yellow wash.

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