Kentucky Warbler

Kentucky Warbler, male

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Kentucky Warbler, female

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Sound
4. Range
5. Conservation Status
6. Other Names

A bird of the deciduous forests of the southeastern United States, the Kentucky Warbler's loud song can be heard far more frequently than the brightly-colored bird can be seen. It stays near the ground and the lower levels of the forest, and nests on the ground.

Cool Facts

• Unlike most songbirds, a male Kentucky Warbler appears to sing only one song type. He will sing the same one throughout his life. Although counter-singing males do not match each other's song types the way many bird species do, a male may match the pitch of a competitor's song.

Description

• Size: 13 cm (5 in)
• Wingspan: 18-22 cm (7-9 in)
• Weight: 10-14 g (0.35-0.49 ounces)

• Small songbird.
• Underparts entirely yellow.
• Back olive green.
• Black "sideburns" down side of face and throat.
• Yellow eyestripe wrapping around back of eye to form spectacles.
• No wingbars or tail spots.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female with less black.

Immature

Immature like adult, but duller.

Sound

Song a loud series of "chuuree" notes. Call a smacking "chip."

Range

Range Map

© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds from western Wisconsin and southeastern New York, southward to eastern Texas and northern Florida.

Winter Range

Winters from Mexico to northern South America.

Conservation Status

May be declining slightly in much of range.

Other Names

Paruline du Kentucky (French)
Chipe patilludo (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

McDonald, M. V. 1998. Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus). In The Birds of North America, No. 324 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.