Magnolia Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMagnolia Warbler
Adult male
Small-billed, long-tailed warbler. Adult males have distinctive black streaking that radiates from a black neck band creating a necklaced look. White undertail coverts and black-tipped tail are diagnostic at all ages.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 14, 2018Female/immature male
Small-billed, long-tailed warbler. Females/immatures have a gray head, a faint gray band across the neck, and 2 narrow white wingbars.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 27, 2015Adult male
The combination of white undertail coverts and black tip to the tail create a distinctive pattern useful for identifying all plumages of Magnolia Warblers.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 01, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult female
Adult females do not have as strong of a black mask and lack the black back seen on adult males, though some females show darker necklace stripes like a male. Adult females are often paler overall with thinner wingbars.
© Shailesh Pinto / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 17, 2017Female/immature male
Females/immatures have less black on the back and fainter streaking on the flanks and chest.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 24, 2011Adult male and female/immature
Forages primarily in trees and shrubs, but sometimes forages for insects on the ground.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 27, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Adult males have a black patch on the back, a wide white wing patch, and a black mask.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 23, 2017Female/immature male
White undertail coverts and black-tipped tail are diagnostic at all ages. Females/immatures have a gray head and faint gray band across the neck.
© Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, September 03, 2016Adult male
Bathes by dipping its bill in the water and tossing water over its back.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 01, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Adult males are bright yellow below with obvious black streaking on the chest and flanks as well as a black mask and black back.
© Tom Lally / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, May 27, 2017Habitat
Found in dense stands of all ages during migration. Breeds in areas with young evergreen trees.
© elwood bracey / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 20, 2017Adult male
Adult males have a distinctive black necklace and boldly striped flanks.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2009Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesCanada Warbler
Adult male
Canada Warblers have an unstreaked gray back and clean gray wings without wingbars, while Magnolia Warblers have a black or streaked back and obvious wingbars.
© David Turgeon / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 10, 2016Similar SpeciesCanada Warbler
Adult female/immature male
Female and immature Canada Warblers do not have wingbars, while immature Magnolia Warblers do.
© Bob & Sharon Edelen / Macaulay LibraryDelaware, September 23, 2016Similar SpeciesPrairie Warbler
Adult male
Prairie Warblers have a yellow head while Magnolia Warblers have a gray head.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012Similar SpeciesPrairie Warbler
Female/immature
Female and immature Prairie Warblers have streaked sides that immature Magnolia Warblers lack.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 02, 2016Similar SpeciesKirtland's Warbler
Male
Kirtland's Warblers lack the Magnolia Warbler's necklace of black stripes. They also do not have well-defined wingbars like Magnolias. Kirtland's has a very restricted breeding range.
© J B / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 09, 2016Similar SpeciesKirtland's Warbler
Female
Female Kirtland's have a spotted belly and lack the necklaced look of Magnolia Warblers. They also lack well-defined wingbars.
© fide R.Smith / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 10, 2005Similar SpeciesNashville Warbler
Adult male
Nashville Warblers are similar to immature Magnolia Warblers, but lack wingbars and Magnolia's distinctive white-and-black tail pattern.
© James Cummins / Macaulay LibraryWashington, May 02, 2017Similar SpeciesNashville Warbler
Female/immature
Nashville Warblers are similar to immature Magnolia Warblers, but lack wingbars and Magnolia's distinctive white-and-black tail pattern.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 26, 2010Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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