Wood-Warblers

Canada Warbler, Cardellina canadensis

Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)

Size: 5.25"

Season: Summer

Habitat: Deciduous and mixed woodlands with dense, moist underbrush

The Canada warbler is a bright warbler of thick, shady woodlands, breeding not just in Canada but throughout most of the northeastern United States. Both sexes are lemon yellow below and on the throat, uniformly slate-gray above and on the wings and tail, and have a distinct, complete whitish eye ring and a yellow loreal patch. Males also have black streaking on the breast, forming a neat “necklace,” and black at the front half of the face. Females have very limited, lighter streaking on the breast (sometimes nearly absent), no black on the face, and an olive-tinted forehead. The legs are pale yellow to reddish-orange. They forage in the dense understory of trees or tall brush, often cocking their tails, gleaning insects and spiders or catching flying insects near the ground. Their voice is a cheerful, musical warble. The adult male is illustrated.