American Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
The American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva) is a rare new world warbler found in 13 countries. The American yellow warbler, also known as the northern yellow warbler, is a New World warbler.
About the American Yellow Warbler
The American yellow warbler, also known as the northern yellow warbler, is a New World warbler. It is a widespread migratory species in the diverse genus Setophaga, that breeds in most parts of North America. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the non-migratory mangrove warbler.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Other than in male breeding plumage and body size, all warbler subspecies are very similar. Winter, female and immature birds all have similarly greenish-yellow uppersides and are a duller yellow below. Young males soon acquire breast and, where appropriate, head coloration. Females are somewhat duller, most notably on the head. In all, the remiges and rectrices are blackish olive with yellow edges, sometimes appearing as an indistinct wing-band on the former. The eyes and the short thin beak are dark, while the feet are lighter or darker olive-buff. The 35 subspecies of S. Voice: The song is a musical strophe that can be rendered sweet sweet sweet, I'm so sweet, although it varies considerably between populations. The call is a soft or harder chip or ship. This is particularly frequently given by females after a male has finished his song. In territorial defense, they give hissing calls, while seet seems to be a kind of specialized cowbird alert (see below).
What the American Yellow Warbler sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an American Yellow Warbler?
- Other than in male breeding plumage and body size, all warbler subspecies are very similar. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see an American Yellow Warbler?
- The American Yellow Warbler occurs in 13 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica.
- What does an American Yellow Warbler sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the American Yellow Warbler on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an American Yellow Warbler?
- The American Yellow Warbler is most easily confused with the Plumbeous Warbler, the Olive-capped Warbler and the Arrowhead Warbler.
Learn the American Yellow Warbler for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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