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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: PARULIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Mourning Warbler Photo

© Isidor Jeklin / CLO

Common within its range, the Mourning Warbler is a small songbird of second-growth forests of eastern and central North America. It typically reveals its presence by its distinctive song of rolling phrases, usually remaining hidden in the low, thick vegetation.

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Appearance

Warblers
Warblers
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Complete gray hood with broken black patch at base of chest.
  • Yellow belly and vent.
  • Plain olive back and wings.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female, but with mixed gray and green plumage in crown, throat usually yellow with gray sides, and a broken white eyering.

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Mourning Warbler Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Male
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    Mourning Warbler

    Male
    • © Isidor Jeklin / CLO
  • Female (in front) and male at nest
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    Mourning Warbler

    Female (in front) and male at nest
    • © Isidor Jeklin / CLO

Similar Species

  • MacGillivray's Warbler very similar, but adult has very bold white eye-arcs and male has black in front of eyes. Some individual Mourning and MacGillivray's Warblers can be so similar that song is the best distinguishing feature. Immatures of these species are extremely difficult to distinguish as well; measurements of wing and tail length of birds in the hand is the most reliable way to tell the difference.
  • Connecticut Warbler has complete white eyering and a paler gray hood.
  • Young Common Yellowthroat similar to young Mourning Warbler, but yellowthroat has white belly.