Geothlypis formosa
male
The Kentucky Warbler is a well-marked, rather short-tailed songbird. The sexes are subtly dissimilar. Adult males have olive-green upperparts extending to the rear of the crown; the forecrown is speckled black. The head markings comprise a black ear patch and lores, with a yellow throat, supercilium, and partial eye surround. The rest of the underparts are also yellow. Adult females are similar to an adult male but less colorful, and black elements of the plumage are replaced by gray. Immatures are similar to an adult female but dark elements of the head pattern are replaced by dark olive. The legs are pink in all birds.
The Kentucky Warbler is present as a breeding species in southeastern North America mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year in Central and South America. The species’ secretive habits and the relative inaccessibility of its favored habitats means it is hard to observe.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.25 in (13.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Dense deciduous woodland, usually near water
STATUS Locally common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a series of churring tseeup-tseeup whistles. Call is a soft tchup
