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A True Bird Mystery: Chapter 4 - A Crowning Achievement

Welcome to the fourth installment in our true bird mysteries, a true-crime-inspired series. Clues are hidden in this article, so keep aware!

A bird photo shrouded in mystery.
If you solve this mystery, you deserve a golden coronation.

This is the fourth entry in the "A True Bird Mystery" series. This series will progress in difficulty, so if you like solving mysteries, riddles, and scavenger hunts... Join Us, SherLARK Holmes! (That was not a clue.)


All chapters of "A True Bird Mystery:"
  1. A Silent Introduction

  2. Anything but Silent

  3. Sit a Spell

  4. A Crowning Achievement

  5. A Golden Opportunity

  6. A Wandering Band of Thieves

  7. A Surplus of Joy

  8. A Red Herring


Where should you look for clues? Everywhere. Weird word choices, unusual phrases, consider contextual clues. Look for anything out of the ordinary in this article!



Remember, scroll slowly so you do not jump ahead and see the answer or spoilers!




Yellow and white, insects do you smite


Depart with your dull

For winter is a lull


Spring brings your flight

Your garb is so bright


Your sight is a thrill

My ears full of trill


A fly do you catch

No insect is a match


Lump are you not

A split should be sought


Your home is of moose

Up high in a spruce


The yellow of a bee

A rear of pure ghee


A symbol of love

Lesser fit of the glove


Away do you go

Beware the lights below


 

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Want more riddles? Of Course!
Of Course! Riddles & Brainteasers
 

Yellow and white, insects do you smite (with clues emphasized)


Depart with your dull

For winter is a lull


Spring brings your flight

Your garb is so bright


Your sight is a thrill

My ears full of trill


A fly do you catch

No insect is a match


Lump are you not

A split should be sought


Your home is of moose

Up high in a spruce


The yellow of a bee

A rear of pure ghee


A symbol of love

Lesser fit of the glove


Away do you go

Beware the lights below




What am I? Find out!
What am I? a collection of traditional word riddles


A summary of clues with HINTS!

  1. Crowning - This bird has coloration in the crown.

  2. Yellow and white - Perhaps there are two varieties of appearances?

  3. Insects - A bird that eats insects.

  4. Depart dull - When do birds depart? The timing may affect plumage.

  5. Spring flight - What happens for many birds in spring?

  6. Garb is bright - After the spring event, what do many birds look like?

  7. Ears full of trill - Some say this bird can have a trill-like song from a distance.

  8. Fly catch - This bird may display a behavior known as flycatching.

  9. Insect - Another reference to its main diet?

  10. Lump - In the birding community, lumping is the combining of multiple species.

  11. Split sought - Perhaps the author desires a split of species instead of lumping?

  12. Home of moose - Hm. What bird home would involve moose?

  13. High in a spruce - Tied to the above clue?

  14. Yellow - Has yellow coloration on this bird.

  15. Rear of ghee - A reference to a colloquial name.

  16. Symbol of love - Reference to a name meaning or symbology?

  17. Lesser fit - Perhaps the above name is poorly offered.

  18. Beware the lights below - This bird is a nocturnal migrant. Light pollution can impact birds.


FINAL HINT (MAJOR SPOILER): Check out this article.



Does this offer another clue?
natures way suet feeder

See our full guide to field guides!



 

SPOILER: The answer is below!

 


The mystery solved, a Yellow-rumped Warbler!


A Yellow-rumped Warbler sits next to a flowering plant.
Revealed - Our mystery is the Yellow-rumped Warbler!

Learn about the basis for the clues

  1. Crowning - The species name for the Yellow-rumped Warbler is coronata. This translates roughly to crown.

  2. Yellow and white - The Audubon's Warbler has a yellow throat, and the Myrtle Warbler has a white throat.

  3. Insects - The Yellow-rumped Warbler is an insectivore, usually. During winter, its diet may vary.

  4. Depart dull - The basic (nonbreeding) plumage is seen during fall migration. It is dull compared to breeding plumage.

  5. Spring flight - These warblers return in spring.

  6. Garb is bright - When returning in spring, alternate plumage is brightly colored.

  7. Ears full of trill - From a distance, a Yellow-rumped Warbler can have a junco-like trill.

  8. Fly catch - Yellow-rumped Warblers can be found flycatching for food.

  9. Insect - The Yellow-rumped Warbler is an insectivore, usually. During winter, its diet may vary.

  10. Lump - The Yellow-rumped Warbler used to be considered multiple species.

  11. Split sought - I think a split is in order for this species.

  12. Home of moose - The Yellow-rumped Warbler uses moose hair for its nest.

  13. High in a spruce - Yellow-rumped Warblers often use spruce trees for nesting.

  14. Yellow - There are multiple spots of yellow on this species.

  15. Rear of ghee - This bird is also known as a "butterbutt."

  16. Symbol of love - Myrtle (a subspecies) is a symbol of love.

  17. Lesser fit - Myrtle is not native to the areas where the Myrtle Warbler is found.

  18. Beware the lights below - This bird is a nocturnal migrant. Light pollution can impact birds.


How did you do? Comment your thoughts in the comment section below! Here are the things to share with us in the comments:

  1. Which clue solidified your guess?

  2. Did you need the clues pointed out in the second section?

  3. Did you need the summary with hints?

  4. Did you use the major spoiler?

  5. Let us know, below!


Capture your own warbler photo!
Sony RX10 IV for warblers, other birds, and wildlife

 

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