Wilson's Warbler Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  Wilson’s Warblers are one of our smallest warblers. They have long, thin tails and small, thin bills. They appear rather round bodied and large headed for their size.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, smaller than a Common Yellowthroat.

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
    • Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)
    • Wingspan: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)

  © Shawn Billerman / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Wilson’s Warblers are bright yellow below and yellowish olive above. Their black eyes stand out on their yellow cheeks. Males have a distinctive black cap. Adult females are similar in color but show variations in the amount of black on the top of the head, from a few blackish feathers to a small dark cap. Juvenile females have an olive crown and a yellow eyebrow.

• Behavior

  Wilson’s Warblers flit restlessly between perches and make direct flights with rapid wingbeats through the understory. Unlike most warblers, they spend most of their time in the understory grabbing insects by hovering or by picking insects from foliage.
• Habitat

  Wilson’s Warblers breed in mountain meadows and thickets near streams, especially those with willows and alders. They also breed along the edges of lakes, bogs, and aspen stands. Pacific Coast populations breed in shrubby habitat and in young stands of conifers, alders, or maples. During migration they use woodlands, suburban areas, desert scrub, and shrubby areas near streams.

Regional Differences

Western populations tend to be brighter yellow than Eastern populations.

Regional Photos

© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 11, 2012

© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 11, 2017