Family: Parulidae, Wood Warblers view all from this family
Description ADULT MALE Has olivegreen back, wings, and tail. Has a blue-gray hood (head and neck); lower margin grades into indistinct darker bib. Broken white eyering is emphasized by dark lores. Underparts are otherwise bright yellow, with olive wash on flanks. Legs are pinkish. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but hood is uniformly pale gray (without dark bib and lores); broken white eyering is striking. IMMATURE Recalls adult female, but has mostly olive-brown head and neck, with pale throat and darker, incomplete breast band (corresponding to lower margin of adult's hood).
Dimensions Length: 4 3/4-5 1/2" (12-14 cm)
Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly Jun-Aug) to dense thickets and secondary woodland, usually within coniferous forests and typically in vicinity of water. Winters in Central America.
Observation Tips A challenge to see well. Listen for its distinctive song.
Range Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Plains, Alaska, Western Canada, California, Texas, Northwest
Voice Song is a rich, chirpy swe'et-swe'et-swe'et-swe'et choo-ee-oo; call is a sharp tzik.
Discussion Western counterpart of Mourning Warbler. Separable on subtle plumage differences, and range and habitat preferences barely overlap. Secretive and mainly terrestrial. Sexes are separable.