Setophaga petechia
northern male
The Yellow Warbler is an aptly named songbird. The sexes are subtly dissimilar in any given season, but adults are subtly brighter in spring than fall. Adult males are bright yellow, the subtly darker wings showing two pale wingbars. The breast and flanks have reddish streaks. Regional variation exists (represented by several subspecies), with northern birds being darkest and most intensely marked, and southwestern birds being plainest overall. Adult females recall their respective regional male but are more uniformly yellow overall, and almost unstreaked below. Immatures are similar to an adult female but much less colorful; some are gray-buff.
The Yellow Warbler is present as a breeding species across most of North America, mainly from April to August. It spends the rest of the year in Central and South America. Typically it forages for insects in low vegetation, making it easy to observe.
western male
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5 in (12.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Scrubby willow thickets and secondary-growth woodland
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a whistling swee-swee-swee-swee-swit-su-swee. Call is sharp tchip
