Black-throated Blue Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Orange-crowned Warbler
Adult
Orange-crowned Warblers are greener and less brown than female Black-throated Blue Warblers. Orange-crowned's undertail coverts are yellow (not white). Note thin bill and lack of white square on the wing.
© Caroline Lambert | Macaulay LibraryAlberta, April 30, 2017Similar Species
Tennessee Warbler
Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding/immature Tennessee Warblers have yellow-washed throat and flanks, while female Black-throated Blues are more dusky and brownish. Tennessee also lacks the female Black-throated Blue's white square on the wing.
© Jean Crépeau | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 01, 2016Similar Species
American Redstart
Female
Female American Redstarts have yellow flashes in the wings and tail that Black-throated Blue Warblers do not have.
© Jeremiah Trimble | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 22, 2016Similar Species
Pine Warbler
Adult female
Female Pine Warblers have 2 white wingbars while female Black-throated Blue Warblers have a white square on the wing.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 09, 2016Similar Species
Common Yellowthroat
Female
Female Common Yellowthroats have a yellow throat and undertail coverts while female Black-throated Blue Warblers have a dusky throat and white undertail coverts. Note lack of white square on the wing.
© Davey Walters | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 18, 2016Main Species
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Male
Fairly large, distinctive black-and-blue warbler. Males have a blue head and back with a black face and throat. Note white square on wings.
© Aaron Marshall | Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 11, 2016Female
Females are plain grayish olive overall, although some have blue tints on the wings and tail. White square on the wing is distinctive.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 27, 2015Male
Males sing "I am so lazzzy" in the understory of eastern deciduous forests.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 01, 2009Not all videos have sound
Male
Fairly large, distinctive black-and-blue warbler. Birds in the Appalachian region have black streaking on the back. Note white square on wings.
© Michael O'Brien | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 01, 2012Female
Females are plain grayish olive with unstreaked underparts. Note pale eyebrow and white crescent under the eye.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 16, 2011Female
Note the diagnostic white wing check.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
Male
Fairly large, distinctive black-and-blue warbler. Males have a blue head and back with a black face and throat. Note white belly and undertail coverts.
© Steve Dowlan | Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, April 11, 2017Female
Females are rather plain looking, but the white square on the wing is diagnostic.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 21, 2014Male
On the wintering grounds they inhabit dense tropical forests, woodlands, shade-coffee plantations, and second growth areas with woody trees.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
Habitat
Breeds in mature deciduous and mixed evergreen-deciduous woodlands with a thick understory.
© Daniel Jauvin | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 12, 2017Female
Eats insects, which they typically pick from the undersides of leaves.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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