Bay-breasted Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBay-breasted Warbler
Breeding male
A long-winged warbler with thick, white wingbars. This breeding male shows a dark-streaked back, butter yellow neck patch, black mask, and a rich dark bay color on the crown, throat, and flanks. Generally found in trees, preferring conifers during the breeding season, but may be found on the ground during migration.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 14, 2016Breeding female
This long-winged, short-tailed warbler shows bold white wingbars and a dark-streaked back. Females are more subtly patterned than males. Note the color of the lower flank and undertail coverts: buff instead of white. This particularly drab individual has just a hint of bay color below the cheek.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 28, 2018Breeding female
The stout bill, prominent pale neck patches, and bold white wingbars are useful for ID in all plumages. Breeding females show a variable amount of bay or chestnut on the crown, face, upper chest, and flank.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 28, 2018Nonbreeding female/immature
Fall migrant females and immatures often show only faint bay or chestnut coloration, so instead focus on the bright yellow-green head and back, plain face lacking a strongly contrasting eyeline, bold white wingbars, and buff-olive (not white) undertail coverts. Additionally, the legs and feet are nondescript and dark, lacking strongly contrasting yellow soles to the feet.
© Peter Hawrylyshyn / Macaulay LibraryOntario, September 09, 2020Nonbreeding male
The stout, dark bill variably marked pale and the bold contrast created by the thick white wingbars against the dark gray wing are useful keys to identifying this messy-looking, nonbreeding male. The pale yellowish neck patch and bold swath of bay on the flank help to lock down the species ID.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryPanamá, March 17, 2009Nonbreeding female/immature
In late summer and fall, females and immatures are best identified by the low contrast yellow-green head, bold white wingbars, and plain, buff flanks and undertail coverts. Many also show a large amount of pale pink in the otherwise dark bill.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, August 24, 2016Nonbreeding female/immature
Nonbreeding individuals can be hard to identify. When viewed from below, look for plain, unstreaked yellow-green plumage with buff-olive tones on the flanks and undertail coverts. Also, the largely pale bill and low contrast face pattern with just a slight dark eyeline are subtly distinctive.
© ryan doherty / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 21, 2016Breeding male
The combination of a yellowish neck patch, black mask, and dark chestnut crown, throat, and flanks make the breeding male nearly unmistakable.
© Shailesh Pinto / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 15, 2016Breeding male
Breeds in boreal spruce and fir forests. Though the black mask, yellowish neck patch, and chestnut throat and flanks create a very distinctive look for this breeding male, also note the buff tones of the undertail coverts and black-and-white tail pattern - these features are useful for ID in all plumages.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 01, 2017Similar SpeciesChestnut-sided Warbler
Breeding male
Breeding male Chestnut-sided Warblers have a yellow crown and white throat that breeding male Bay-breasted Warblers lack.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 15, 2016Similar SpeciesChestnut-sided Warbler
Nonbreeding female
Nonbreeding female Chestnut-sided Warblers have yellow (not white) wingbars, a bright yellow-green cap, and a complete white eyering that Bay-breasted Warblers lack.
© Larry Therrien / Macaulay LibrarySan José, December 19, 2016Similar SpeciesBlackpoll Warbler
Nonbreeding female/immature male
Nonbreeding female/immature Blackpoll Warblers have faint streaking on the flanks and white (not buffy) undertail coverts unlike Bay-breasted Warblers.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 28, 2016Similar SpeciesCape May Warbler
Adult female/immature male
Adult female/immature male Cape May Warblers are brighter yellow below than Bay-breasted Warblers with streaked flanks.
© Lucas Berrigan / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, September 01, 2016Similar SpeciesBlackburnian Warbler
Female/immature
Female/immature Blackburnian Warblers are brighter yellow below than Bay-breasted Warblers with streaked flanks and a triangular ear patch.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 25, 2015Similar SpeciesPine Warbler
Adult female
Female Pine Warblers have a stouter bill, thinner wingbars, and a yellower throat than nonbreeding/immature Bay-breasted Warblers.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 09, 2016Similar SpeciesPine Warbler
Adult male
Male Pine Warblers have a stouter bill, thinner wingbars, and a yellower throat than nonbreeding/immature Bay-breasted Warblers.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 30, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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