Skip to main content

Connecticut Warbler

Silhouette WarblersWarblers
Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilis
  • ORDER: Passeriformes
  • FAMILY: Parulidae

Basic Description

The Connecticut Warbler is an infamously hard-to-find bird that forages on the ground in remote muskeg, spruce bogs, and poplar forests. Simply plumaged, with a gray hood, yellow belly, and olive back, the Connecticut Warbler has a large bill and a large pale eyering—often the first field mark that stands out. Although males sing from trees, this species forages by walking slowly through underbrush, where it is difficult to see. Probably owing to its retiring habits and remote habitats, Connecticut is among the least studied of American songbirds.

More ID Info
image of range map for Connecticut Warbler
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
Explore Maps

Find This Bird

Most birders happen upon Connecticut Warblers during migration, barring a trip to the species’ remote northern breeding grounds. Look for Connecticut Warblers close to the ground in dense undergrowth. If you do visit their breeding grounds from late May through June, look and listen for males singing consistently from song perches in trees. These perches can be well concealed within the foliage near the crown, but males tend to sing for long periods at a stretch and typically return to precisely the same set of perches in the territory daily.

Other Names

  • Reinita de Connecticut (Spanish)
  • Paruline à gorge grise (French)
  • Cool Facts