Red-faced Warbler Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A small, slim songbird with a rather long tail, short wings, and small, stubby bill.

  Relative Size

  Slightly larger than a Wilson's Warbler, slightly smaller than a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 5.5 in (14 cm)
    • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-11 g)
    • Wingspan: 8.3 in (21 cm)

• Color Pattern

  Adult males are neat gray birds with a brilliant red face and a black crown and ear patch. Females have the same pattern but less vivid red. The gray upperparts feature a white nape, thin white wingbar, and white rump; the underparts are white. Immatures have pinkish faces.

• Behavior

  Flits quickly along branches, often flicking the tail, investigating foliage and branches for small insects. Sometimes hovers briefly to seize insects at branch tips, and sometimes catches them in midair.

• Habitat

  Nests at higher elevations (6,500 feet and above) in pine-oak-fir forests, as well as in stands of Douglas-fir, quaking aspen, Engelmann spruce, and canyon maple. Migrants are occasionally found below 6,000 feet, often along streams.