Bird Guide

Hooded Warbler vs Townsend's Warbler

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)

Hooded Warbler

Setophaga citrina

Tiny11 gForest

The hooded warbler is a small bird and mid-sized warbler, measuring 13 cm (5.1 in) in length and weighing 9–12 g (0.32–0.42 oz). The hooded warbler has a wingspan of 6.9 in (17.5 cm). It has a plain olive/green-brown back and yellow underparts. Their outer rectrices have whitish vanes. Males have distinctive black hoods which surround their yellow faces; the female has an olive-green cap which does not extend to the forehead, ears, and throat. Males attain their hood at about 9–12 months of age; younger birds are essentially identical to (and easily confused with) females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Philip Vanbergen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tommy Andriollo · CC BY 4.0
Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Tiny9 gForest

Townsend's warbler has a yellow face with a black stripe across its cheeks extending into an ear patch, a thin pointed bill, two white wing bars, olive upperparts with black streaks on their backs and flanks, and a white belly. Adult males have a black cap, black throat and yellow lower breast; females have a dark cap and a yellow throat. Immature birds are similar to females with a dark green cap and cheeks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: NPS Alaska · CC0
Photo: Slodocent · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Hooded Warbler and Townsend's Warbler.