Mourning Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMourning Warbler
Adult male
Chunky warbler with a gray hood, black chest, and yellow underparts. Lacks wingbars and eyerings.
© André Lanouette / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 22, 2018Adult female/immature male
Adult females/immature males are paler overall than adult males and lack the black chest.
© John King / Macaulay LibraryOntario, July 14, 2017Immature female
Immature females have less of a hooded look and show less contrast between the head and the back.
© Nathan Dubrow / Macaulay LibraryMaine, August 21, 2018Immature male
Immature males have a paler gray hood and a partial eyering. Note yellow underparts.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 12, 2013Adult male
Hops along the ground and from branch to branch often staying concealed in vegetation.
© Raymond Ladurantaye / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 19, 2017Adult male
Breeds in disturbed second-growth forested areas, with moderately closed canopy and thick understory.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 17, 2015Similar SpeciesConnecticut Warbler
Adult male
Adult male Connecticut Warblers have a complete eyering that adult male Mourning Warblers lack.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 28, 2016Similar SpeciesConnecticut Warbler
Immature
Immature Connecticut Warblers have a complete eyering whereas the eyering on immature Mourning Warblers looks broken. Also note the lack of a hooded look on Immature Connecticuts compared to immature Mourning Warblers. The throat on immature Connecticuts is often whitish rather than yellowish on Immature Mourning.
© Frank Lehman / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 15, 2016Similar SpeciesNashville Warbler
Adult male
Compared to female Mourning Warblers, Nashville Warblers have a yellow throat unlike the gray throated female Mourning Warblers. Nashville Warblers are also smaller and often more active.
© James Cummins / Macaulay LibraryWashington, May 02, 2017Similar SpeciesNashville Warbler
Female/immature
Female/immature Nashville Warblers have a gray back whereas immature Mourning Warblers have a yellow-olive back. Also note size differences; Nashvilles are smaller and less bulky than Mourning Warblers.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 26, 2010Similar SpeciesMacGillivray's Warbler
Adult male
MacGillivray's Warblers have a broken eyering that Mourning Warblers lack. Also note that ranges do not overlap.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 10, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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