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Magnolia Warbler

Dendroica magnolia ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: PARULIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Magnolia Warbler Photo

© Isidor Jeklin / CLO

The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome and familiar warbler of the northern forests. Though it often forages conspicuously and close to the ground, we have relatively scant information on its nesting behavior.

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Appearance

Warblers
Warblers
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Yellow chest and throat.
  • Black necklace and black stripes down sides.
  • White wingbars or large white patch on wings.
  • Gray crown.
  • Yellow rump.
  • Large white patch in black-tipped tail.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Black mask, white eyebrow stripe. Conspicuous black band across the upper breast, with heavy black streaks on the sides, wide white wing-panels, and a black back. Rump yellow.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Duller with reduced streaking, two white wingbars, and greenish back. Lacks black face mask; face gray with white eyering.

Female Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Gray face, white eyebrow stripe, modest black streaks on the sides, and thin white wingbars.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: similar to nonbreeding male, with an olive-tinged crown and less streaking.

Immature Description

Similar to nonbreeding adult, but without black streaking on chest. Olive-gray crown and upperparts. Throat, breast and belly yellow, with pale gray band across upper chest. Narrow white wingbars.

Range Map Help

Magnolia Warbler Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

Similar Species

  • Tail pattern is distinctive. Only American Redstart has a similar "T"- shaped pattern, and it has yellow or orange, not white, in the tail, and lacks yellow chest or streaks.
  • Cape May Warbler has thinner streaks on chest, reddish, not black, in the face, and a duller yellow rump.
  • Prairie Warbler has green back and lacks black face mask.
  • Canada Warbler has short black streaks on chest only, is all gray on back, and lacks wingbars.
  • Nashville Warbler similar to immature, but lacks wingbars and tail pattern.