Cerulean Warbler vs Golden-cheeked Warbler: How to Tell Them Apart

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Tiny9 gForest

The cerulean warbler is one of the smallest Setophaga wood-warblers, about 11 cm (4.3 in) long, weighing 8–10 g (0.28–0.35 oz), and having a wingspan of 20 cm (7.9 in). Males are slightly larger than females, and older males tend to also be larger. Wing chord measures 62–66 mm (2.4–2.6 in), while the tail is 40.6–42.7 mm (1.60–1.68 in) long. The culmen, or upper edge of the beak, measures 9.5–9.8 mm (0.37–0.39 in) long, 3.5 mm (0.14 in) wide and 3.5 mm (0.14 in) height. The cerulean warbler is strongly sexually dichromatic.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Manuel cabrera · Song · Pacto Sumaco, Napo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Matt Schenck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Schenck · cc-by

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Setophaga chrysoparia

Tiny10 gForest

The golden-cheeked warbler is very striking due to its bright yellow cheeks that are contrasted by its black throat and back. It is also identified by its unique buzzing song emerging from the wooded canyons where it breeds. Golden-cheeked warblers breed in 33 counties in central Texas and are dependent on ashe juniper (blueberry juniper or cedar) for their fine bark strips used as nesting material.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by steve · Song · Friedrich Wilderness Park (near San Antonio), Bexar County, Texas, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

United States Mexico Nicaragua Honduras Guatemala

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cerulean Warbler and Golden-cheeked Warbler.