An Introduction to Warblers
First of all, how do you know you’ve spotted a warbler? There’s huge variety in the color and shape of warblers in North America, but we can summarize them all as small, insect-eating birds.
These birds are full of energy and are often seen flittering from branch to branch and across the forest floor. They are also known for their epic migrations, with some species travelling from the most northerly parts of Canada as far down as South America.
The name “warbler” can cause confusion, as there are 12 other families of birds across the world that are also given the name “warblers”. Here in North America (north of the Mexican border) the vast majority of our warblers are part of the New World Warbler family, also known as the Parulidae.
Below, you’ll find brief descriptions and identification photos of the 15 most commonly seen warblers in North America.
The days of struggling to identify warblers are over!
So get yourself a hot drink, take a seat and scroll down to discover the wonderful world of warblers.
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata
Population & Trend: 150 million, stable, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests from northern Alaska and Canada to the midwestern States. Winters in a variety of open and second-growth habitats across central and southwestern US south all the way to Panama.
Size: Length = 4.7-5.5 in, Weight = 0.4-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.5-9.1 in
Notes: Affectionally named “butter-butt” from the bright yellow rump that distinguishes this species. Adult also have a yellow crown patch. Widespread and well-known.
2. Common Yellowthroat
Scientific Name: Geothlypis trichas
Population & Trend: 77 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in thick vegetation, especially in marshy areas, across most of North America. Winters in shrubby habitats in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.
Size: Length = 4.3-5.1 in, Weight = 0.3 oz, Wingspan = 5.9-7.5 in
Notes: Identify the male with its black “bandit” mask. The female is brownish-green with a yellow throat and unmarked face. Listen for the male’s wichety-wichety-wichety song in marshes, wetland edges and brushy fields.
3. Yellow Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga petechia
Population & Trend: 97 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds across most of Canada, Alaska and US, excluding the southwestern states, in shrubby thickets and woods particularly near water. Winters mainly in mangrove forests of Central and South America.
Size: Length = 4.7-5.1 in, Weight = 0.3-0.4 oz, Wingspan = 6.3-7.9 in
Notes: The most widespread American wood-warbler, and also an easy one to identify. This is North America’s yellowest warbler and has prominent black eyes and an unmarked face. Males have cinnamon streaking on the breast.
4. American Redstart
Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla
Population & Trend: 42 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds across most of northeastern and central US and southern Canada in second-growth woodland. Winters in lowland forests and edges from the tip of Florida across the Caribbean, as well as Central America to northern South America.
Size: Length = 4.3-5.1 in, Weight = 0.2-0.3 oz, Wingspan = 6.3-7.5 in
Notes: Males are glossy black with bright orange patches on the sides, wings and tail. In contrast, females and juveniles are olive-brown with a gray head and underparts and lemon-yellow patches instead.
5. Palm Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga palmarum
Population & Trend: 13 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in boreal forest across west-central Canada east to Labrador and Newfoundland and south to very northern US. Winters in weedy fields and forest edges in southeastern US, Caribbean and Central America.
Size: Length = 4.7-5.5 in, Weight = 0.3-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.9-8.3 in
Notes: With its tendency to walk on the ground and wag its tail, this bird isn’t a typical warbler. Many people spot this bird on their spring and fall migration across eastern US. Large and stocky with a rusty cap.
6. Pine Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus
Population & Trend: 13 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in pine forest or pine trees in deciduous woods across eastern US and southern Canada. Winters in similar habitat in central and southern eastern US.
Size: Length = 5.1-5.5 in, Weight = 0.3-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.5-9.1 in
Notes: Yellowish bird with an olive back an two distinctive white bars on its gray wings. Often on tops of pine trees but occasionally visits backyard feeders.
7. Black-and-white Warbler
Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia
Population & Trend: 18 million, stable, ‘Least Concern’
Location: Breeds across most of eastern US and up to Canada’s Northwest Territories in deciduous and mixed forests.Winters in southeastern US and as far down as northern South America in wooded areas.
Size: Length = 4.3-5.1 in, Weight = 0.3-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.1-8.7 in
Note: One of the earliest arriving warblers to breeding grounds. Distinguished by its ‘zebra’ striped plumage and vertical movements up and down trees similar to a nuthatch. Similar to Blackpoll Warbler male but lacks solid black cap.
8. Magnolia Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia
Population & Trend: 39 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in small conifers in coniferous and mixed forests in Canada, Great Lakes region, New England and northern Appalachians. Winters in tropical forests and scrub in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Size: Length = 4.3-5.1 in, Weight = 0.2-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 6.3-7.9 in
Notes: Named ‘Magnolia’ as the first specimen of this bird was collected from a Magnolia tree, although you won’t often find this bird there. Identify by its white undertail coverts and black tail tip.
9. Black-throated Blue Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga caerulescens
Population & Trend: 2.4 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern’
Location: Breeds in eastern Canada and US, preferring deciduous woods with a shrubby understory. Winters in the Caribbean and western coast of mainland Central America in similar forests including shade-coffee farms.
Size: Length = 4.3-5.1 in, Weight = 0.3-0.4 oz, Wingspan = 7.5-7.9 in
Notes: Males’ dark blue plumage is a stark difference to the olive-brown female. But both sexes can be distinguished from other warblers by the white ‘pocket handkerchief’ mark on their primary feathers.
10. Wilson’s Warbler
Scientific Name: Cardellina pusilla
Population & Trend: 81 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in low, shrubby areas across most of Canada south down the US West Coast, Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada to southern California. Winters mainly in Mexico and Central America, but some stay in southern California and along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Texas.
Size: Length = 3.9-4.7 in, Weight = 0.2-0.3 oz, Wingspan = 5.5-6.7 in
Notes: Latin name ‘pusilla’ means tiny and this bird is indeed one of the smallest warblers. Easily identifiable from its black “beret” cap and energetic tail wagging and wing flickering. Bright yellow from above.
11. Tennessee Warbler
Scientific Name: Leiothlypis peregrina
Population & Trend: 110 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in boreal forests and thickets across much of Alaska and Canada and very northern US. Winters in open woods, particularly shade-coffee plantations, in Central and northern South America
Size: Length = 3.9-5.1 in, Weight = 0.3 oz, Wingspan = 7.5-7.9 in
Notes: Overall greenish on top and white underneath, males have a gray head and white line over the eye. Poorly named as it can only found in Tennessee during its migration. Smaller and shorter-tailed than the similar-looking Red-eyed Vireo.
12. Chestnut-sided Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga pensylvanica
Population & Trend: 18 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern’
Location: Breeds mainly in northeastern US and central and eastern Canada in young deciduous regrowth and shrubby clearings created by disturbance like forest fires. In winter, found in tropical forests and edges.
Size: Length = 4.7-5.5 in, Weight = 0.4-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.5-8.3 in
Notes: Note the rich chestnut flanks and yellow (lime-green for females and juveniles) crown. This warbler’s range has expanded since the 19th century, as their nesting preferences mean they benefit from the clearing of forests.
13. Blackburnian Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga fusca
Population & Trend: 13 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern’
Location: Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests across northeastern North America. Winters in Central and South America, particularly in montane forests.
Size: Length = 4.3-4.7 in, Weight = 0.3-0.4 oz, Wingspan = 7.9-9.1 in
Note: Bright orange and black breeding colours distinguish it from most other warblers. The similarly colored American Redstart lacks the orange throat.
14. Cape May Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga tigrina
Population & Trend: 7 million, increasing, ‘Least Concern’
Location: Breeds in coniferous forests of North America. Winters in gardens and tropical forests in Caribbean and mainland Central America.
Size: Length = 4.7-5.1 in, Weight = 0.4-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 7.9-8.7 in
Notes: Named after the location it was first described, but in reality doesn’t spend much time in Cape May, New Jersey. Actually, the scientific name ‘tigrina’ is more accurate due to the black “tiger stripes” on the breast (more bold on males than females and juveniles).
15. Prothonotary Warbler
Scientific Name: Protonotaria citrea
Population & Trend: 2.1 million, decreasing, ‘Least Concern‘
Location: Breeds in swamps and flooded woodlands in southeastern US. Winters in Central America and northern South America in coastal mangroves and lowland forests along streams.
Size: Length = 5.1 in, Weight = 0.4-0.5 oz, Wingspan = 8-9 in
Notes: Named after its bright golden yellow coloring which resembles the robes of a “Prothonotary” or clerk in the Roman Catholic Church. The wings and tail are blue-gray and its back yellow-olive.
The Wonderful World of Warblers
There you have it, the wonderful warblers that you are most likely to see here, in North America.
Remember warblers are small, fast and insect-catching birds. If you find a bird that matches this description, chances are you have found a warbler. Check if it matches one of the 15 species above, or explore our complete guide to North America’s warblers here.
