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Mourning Warbler

Silhouette WarblersWarblers
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia
  • ORDER: Passeriformes
  • FAMILY: Parulidae

Basic Description

Clad in olive, gray, and yellow, with a jewel-like black chest patch in breeding males, Mourning Warblers are bright but hard-to-see birds of brushy areas. Among the most renowned skulkers of the warbler family, they are common but seldom seen, particularly during migration and winter, when they are quiet. Mourning Warblers breed in dense thickets of northern North America, often in areas created by fires, storms, or logging operations. Males sing a short, burry song.

More ID Info
image of range map for Mourning Warbler
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Find This Bird

Go looking for Mourning Warblers in late spring and early summer, when males sing loudly in the early morning. Listen for them in areas with dense, shrubby vegetation and few trees. Even while singing these birds often remain concealed—you may be able to coax one into view by making “pishing” sounds. Look for migrants also in dense habitats; they may sing during spring migration but are often quiet, making them hard to locate. The Mourning Warbler is among the latest of all spring migrants, and some arrive in nesting areas as late as early June.

Other Names

  • Reinita Plañidera (Spanish)
  • Paruline triste (French)
  • Cool Facts