Prairie Warbler Identification

Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Small warbler. Adult males are bright yellow below with black streaking on the flanks. Note black eyeline, black semicircle under the eye, and chestnut back patch.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012
Prairie Warbler Female/immature
Female/immature

Females/immatures are paler yellow with blurry streaks on the sides. The head can be yellowish or grayish with darker semicircle under the eye, giving them a thick broken eyering look.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 24, 2016
Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Song is a rising series of buzzy notes.

© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 30, 2011
Prairie Warbler Female/immature
Female/immature

Females/immatures are paler yellow than males with blurry streaks on the sides. The head can be yellowish or grayish with darker semicircle under the eye, in an echo of the male's face pattern.

© Alix d'Entremont | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 02, 2016
Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Adult males are bright yellow below with black streaking on the flanks. Note black eyeline and semicircle under the eye.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012
Prairie Warbler Female/immature
Female/immature

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004
Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Often sings from exposed perches throughout the day.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 09, 2013
Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

Found in scrubby fields and forests throughout the eastern and south-central United States.

© Maxwell Ramey | Macaulay LibraryMaryland, May 21, 2017
Prairie Warbler Adult male
Adult male

© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2009
Prairie Warbler Female/immature
Female/immature

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, February 01, 2004
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Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Olive-green upperparts.
  • Yellow throat and belly.
  • Black streaks on face, sides and flanks.
  • Wags tail.

Male Description

Olive-green upperparts, with rufous streaks on back. Bright yellow throat, breast, and belly. Bold black streaks on sides and flanks. Bright yellow eyebrow stripe. Dark line through eye. Yellow crescent under eye, bordered below by dark arc.

Female Description

Dull, unmarked olive upperparts. Dark streaks on sides. Pale yellow underparts. Subtle markings on face, including light arc under eye, bordered below by darker semicircle.

Immature Description

Head gray with whitish around eyes, chest olive-yellow with indistinct dark stripes along sides.
Relative Size

Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
    • Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (6.4-8.8 g)