Blackburnian Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBlackburnian Warbler
Adult male
Small warbler with a long body. Adult males have a brilliant orange throat and face with a black crown and triangular ear patch.
© Ezra Staengl / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 12, 2019Female/immature male
Females/immatures are paler and yellower overall with 2 white wingbars. Note distinctive triangular ear patch and yellow eyebrow.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 25, 2015Adult male
Hops around in vegetation and nervously looks around. This video has no audio.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2009Female/immature male
Small warbler with a long body. Note triangular ear patch, pale eyebrow, and white wingbars.
© William Higgins / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, September 15, 2016Female/immature male
Females/immatures lack the orange coloration, showing tones of yellow instead. Note triangular ear patch, pale eyebrow, and white wingbars.
© Brian Lowry / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, September 18, 2016Adult male
Hops among branches and gleans insects from the undersides of leaves.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasAdult male
Flame orange throat quickly identifies adult males.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 03, 2012Adult male
The brilliant orange throat and head pattern is distinctive on adult males although the intensity of orange varies among individuals.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 17, 2017Female/immature
Females/immatures have a distinctive dull black triangular ear patch and bold wingbars. This video has no audio.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2009Adult male
Breeds in mature evergreen and mixed evergreen-deciduous forests.
© Zoe Finney / Macaulay LibraryWisconsin, May 26, 2017Habitat
Found in all types of wooded areas during migration.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 25, 2015Adult male
Males often sing from the tops of trees and branches. This video has no audio.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2009Similar SpeciesYellow-throated Warbler
Adult
Yellow-throated Warblers have plainer gray upperparts than Blackburnian Warblers with a yellow (not orange) throat.
© Melissa James / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, June 19, 2016Similar SpeciesCerulean Warbler
Female
Female Cerulean Warblers have a blue tint on the back unlike female/immature Blackburnian Warblers and lack the triangular ear patch.
© Josh Engel / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, May 08, 2016Similar SpeciesBay-breasted Warbler
Nonbreeding female/immature male
Nonbreeding Bay-breasted Warblers lack the pale eyebrow and streaky flanks of nonbreeding Blackburnian Warblers.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 27, 2015Similar SpeciesBlackpoll Warbler
Nonbreeding female/immature
Nonbreeding Blackpoll Warblers lack the pale eyebrow and triangular cheek patch of nonbreeding Blackburnian Warblers. Also note thinner wingbars.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 28, 2016Similar SpeciesCape May Warbler
Female
Female Cape May Warblers have more even streaking on the throat and flanks and thinner wingbars than female/immature Blackburnian Warblers. Also note greenish rump on Cape May, absent on Blackburnian.
© Yves Dugré / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, September 26, 2016Similar SpeciesPalm Warbler
Nonbreeding/immature (Western)
Nonbreeding/immature Palm Warblers often occur lower to the ground and constantly bob their tail unlike Blackburnian Warblers. They lack wingbars and are browner overall (especially on the face) than Blackburnian Warblers.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, December 28, 2016Search species and articles
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