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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.

© Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, April 30, 2016
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: 0.3-0.5 oz (10-14 g)
    • Wingspan: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)

Species in This Family

New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Parulidae)

OvenbirdOvenbird
Worm-eating WarblerWorm-eating Warbler
Louisiana WaterthrushLouisiana Waterthrush
Northern WaterthrushNorthern Waterthrush
Golden-winged WarblerGolden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged WarblerBlue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white WarblerBlack-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary WarblerProthonotary Warbler
Swainson's WarblerSwainson's Warbler
Tennessee WarblerTennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned WarblerOrange-crowned Warbler
Lucy's WarblerLucy's Warbler
Nashville WarblerNashville Warbler
Virginia's WarblerVirginia's Warbler
Connecticut WarblerConnecticut Warbler
MacGillivray's WarblerMacGillivray's Warbler
Mourning WarblerMourning Warbler
Kentucky WarblerKentucky Warbler
Common YellowthroatCommon Yellowthroat
Hooded WarblerHooded Warbler
American RedstartAmerican Redstart
Kirtland's WarblerKirtland's Warbler
Cape May WarblerCape May Warbler
Cerulean WarblerCerulean Warbler
Northern ParulaNorthern Parula
Magnolia WarblerMagnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted WarblerBay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian WarblerBlackburnian Warbler
Yellow WarblerYellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided WarblerChestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll WarblerBlackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue WarblerBlack-throated Blue Warbler
Pine WarblerPine Warbler
Yellow-rumped WarblerYellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated WarblerYellow-throated Warbler
Prairie WarblerPrairie Warbler
Grace's WarblerGrace's Warbler
Black-throated Gray WarblerBlack-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's WarblerTownsend's Warbler
Hermit WarblerHermit Warbler
Golden-cheeked WarblerGolden-cheeked Warbler
Canada WarblerCanada Warbler
Wilson's WarblerWilson's Warbler
Red-faced WarblerRed-faced Warbler
Painted RedstartPainted Redstart
Palm WarblerPalm Warbler
Black-throated Green WarblerBlack-throated Green Warbler

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