Prairie Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPrairie Warbler
Adult male
Small warbler. Adult males are bright yellow below with black streaking on the flanks. Note black eyeline, black semicircle under the eye, and chestnut back patch.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 16, 2018Female/immature
Females/immatures are paler yellow with blurry streaks on the sides. The head can be yellowish or grayish with darker semicircle under the eye, giving them a thick broken eyering look.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 24, 2016Adult male
Song is a rising series of buzzy notes.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 30, 2011Female/immature
Females/immatures are paler yellow than males with blurry streaks on the sides. The head can be yellowish or grayish with darker semicircle under the eye, in an echo of the male's face pattern.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 02, 2016Adult male
Adult males are bright yellow below with black streaking on the flanks. Note black eyeline and semicircle under the eye.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012Female/immature
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004Adult male
Often sings from exposed perches throughout the day.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 09, 2013Adult male
Found in scrubby fields and forests throughout the eastern and south-central United States.
© Maxwell Ramey / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, May 21, 2017Female/immature
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004Similar SpeciesMagnolia Warbler
Adult male
Magnolia Warblers have a gray (not yellow) crown, a black (not yellow) back, and a black eye patch that Prairie Warblers lack.
© David Turgeon / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 23, 2017Similar SpeciesMagnolia Warbler
Female/immature
Female/immature Magnolia Warblers have white (not yellow) wingbars and a white eyering that female/immature Prairie Warblers lack.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 27, 2015Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Adult male
Male Northern Yellow Warblers have rusty (not black) streaks and a cleaner yellow face than Prairie Warblers.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 10, 2015Similar SpeciesNorthern Yellow Warbler
Adult female
Female Northern Yellow Warblers do not have streaked flanks like Prairie Warblers. They also have a cleaner yellow face.
© Terry Boswell / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, June 04, 2017Similar SpeciesPalm Warbler
Nonbreeding/immature (Western)
Nonbreeding/immature Palm Warblers are browner overall than Prairie Warblers with a pale eyebrow.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, December 28, 2016Similar SpeciesPalm Warbler
Breeding adult (Yellow)
Breeding Palm Warblers have rusty or brown (not black) streaks on the belly and have a yellow or pale eyebrow that Prairie Warblers lack.
© Margaret Viens / Macaulay LibraryMaine, April 16, 2013Similar SpeciesPine Warbler
Adult male
Pine Warblers are larger than Prairie Warblers with white (not yellow) wingbars.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 30, 2017Similar SpeciesPine Warbler
Adult female
Pine Warbler are larger than Prairie Warblers with white (not yellow) wingbars.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 09, 2016Similar SpeciesKirtland's Warbler
Male
Kirtland's Warblers have a gray head and back unlike Prairie Warblers. Breeding ranges do not overlap and Kirtland's are not frequently seen during migration.
© J B / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 09, 2016Search species and articles
Explore birds based on location and time of year.
View Birds Near MeDon't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.