Kentucky Warbler Identification

Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Medium-sized, long-legged warbler. Entirely yellow below and olive-green above. Males have black sideburns and crown.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 11, 2012
Kentucky Warbler Female
Female

Long-legged warbler of the understory. Entirely yellow below and olive-green above. Females also have dark sideburns, but they are often grayer and the cap is often smaller and mottled black or gray.

© Matthew Grube | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 21, 2016
Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Call is a sharp, somewhat metallic chip. Song is a rapid series of two-parted notes, all on the same pitch.

© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryArkansas, April 01, 1996
Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Medium-sized warbler of the understory. Yellow below with a black crown and sideburns.

© Hank Davis | Macaulay LibraryDelaware, May 16, 2016
Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Males and females are entirely yellow below.

© Don Martin | Macaulay LibraryKentucky, April 29, 2016
Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Typically stays close to the ground in fairly dense forest understory.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 01, 1995
Kentucky Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Breeds in bottomland hardwood forests and forests near streams with dense understory. From a distance, note yellow underparts, long legs, and black sideburns.

© Shelby Thomas | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, April 23, 2016
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Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Underparts entirely yellow.
  • Back olive green.
  • Black "sideburns" down side of face and throat.
  • Yellow eyestripe wrapping around back of eye to form spectacles.
  • No wingbars or tail spots.

Immature Description

Immature like adult, but duller.
Relative Size

Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
    • Weight: 0.5-0.5 oz (13-14 g)
    • Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)