Mangrove Yellow Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMangrove Yellow Warbler
Adult male (Mexican)
A bright yellow warbler with varying amounts of chestnut on the head, found in the mangroves of Caribbean islands, the Galapagos, and coastal Central and South America. Adult males in the “Mexican” group, as well as most other mainland populations, have a fully chestnut head and a bright yellow body.
© Isaias Morataya / Macaulay LibraryCorozal, February 10, 2018Adult male (Mexican)
Occurs mainly in mangroves, but also found in neighboring woodlands, edges, and coastal scrub.
© Carl Bendorf / Macaulay LibraryPuntarenas, January 26, 2024Adult male
A bright yellow warbler of Caribbean islands, the Galapagos, and coastal Central and South America. Adult males on Martinique, as well as most mainland populations, have a full chestnut head and chestnut streaks on the breast.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryMartinique, June 10, 2017Female (Mexican)
Females are highly variable. Some are bright yellow overall and strongly resemble female Northern Yellow Warbler, but often show traces of chestnut on the throat and head.
© Daniel Aldana | Ornis Birding Expeditions / Macaulay LibraryEscuintla, October 21, 2018Female (Mexican)
Some females are duller yellow below with olive upperparts.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, February 02, 2022Adult male
Aside from adult male’s chestnut head or crown, similar to Northern Yellow Warbler: a bright yellow warbler with a dark, beady eye; yellow feather edging on the wings; yellow tail and undertail coverts; and, in males, prominent chestnut streaking on the breast.
© Wayne Hall / Macaulay LibraryCorozal, April 05, 2018Adult male (Panama)
Some males have heavy chestnut streaking on the breast.
© Ohad Sherer / Macaulay LibraryDarién, September 15, 2024Adult male (Greater Antillean)
Males on most Caribbean islands have either a yellowish head or a chestnut crown patch.
© Larry Manfredi / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, September 26, 2025Adult male (Lesser Antillean)
Males on most Caribbean islands have either a yellowish head or a chestnut crown patch.
© Neil Hayward / Macaulay LibrarySaint Peter, July 12, 2025Adult male (Martinique)
Martinique is the one Caribbean island where males have an entirely chestnut head, like most mainland populations.
© Larry Manfredi / Macaulay LibraryMartinique, June 16, 2023Adult male (Galapagos)
In the Galapagos, this species occurs in all available habitats across the islands.
© Craig Suckling / Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, September 01, 2024Female (Galapagos)
Some females are gray-headed, while others are yellow/olive-headed.
© Jay Dia / Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, July 28, 2025Female (Greater Antillean)
Some young females have a mottled yellow-and-gray appearance.
© Simon Artuch / Macaulay LibraryNorth Side, March 30, 2025Female (Greater Antillean)
Some females are gray-headed, while others are yellow/olive-headed.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibrarySouth Abaco and Moore's Island, January 06, 2013Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Adult male
Adult male Northern Yellow Warbler lacks the chestnut hood or crown of Mangrove Yellow Warbler and has brighter yellow upperparts.
© Jeff Dyck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, May 12, 2024Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Female
Female Northern Yellow Warbler can be hard to tell from female Northern Mangrove Warbler when the two overlap during Northern’s nonbreeding season. Female Northern Yellow Warbler is typically yellower than female Mangrove, with no chestnut on the face or crown and limited or no chestnut on the throat.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 20, 2018Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Female
Tennessee Warbler is smaller than Mangrove Yellow Warbler, with a thinner bill. Tennessee Warbler has a more strongly patterned face, with a strong blackish eyeline, a white line above the eye, and whitish arcs around the eye.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, October 06, 2020Similar SpeciesOrange-crowned Warbler
Immature
Orange-crowned Warbler has a more patterned face than female/immature Mangrove Yellow Warbler and lacks Mangrove’s yellow feather edging on the wings and yellow spots on the tail. Orange-crowned Warbler has a dark eyeline, white eye crescents, and a sharp bill.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2010Search species and articles
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