44 Species Of Warblers in Arizona (ID and Song Guide)

nashville warbler

This guide will help you identify all the species of warbler that are regularly occurring in Arizona with photo ID and descriptions, audio recordings of their songs, and fun facts, plus more.

Warblers are small migratory songbirds that travel long distances from as far as South America up to breeding grounds as far as Canada. They are active and often bright birds that rush through from breeding to wintering grounds in a flash of yellow and green and with a marvelous variety of songs.

North American warblers are known as wood-warblers as they can be found mainly in woodland and forests. You may also get what is known as warbler neck, which is a painful neck stiffness and tingling from looking up into the trees with your binoculars trying to spot them.

Warblers mainly eat insects, but they will often come to backyard feeders for seeds or mealworms. Find out the other species of birds that regularly visit Arizona and print a free ID chart.

This guide will help you identify the types of warblers spotted in Arizona that are classed as regularly occurring according to avibase and uses data collected from bird watchers on ebird to give real information about when these birds can be spotted.

Warblers in Arizona in summer: Lucy’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Grace’s Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler
Warblers in Arizona in winter: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula
Warblers in Arizona during migration: Wilson’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart
Accidental Warblers in Arizona: Rufous-capped Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Palm Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Ovenbird, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Tropical Parula, Cape May Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Mourning Warbler

What Do Warblers Sound Like?

You will often hear warblers before you see them, and if you get to know a few of their songs, then it will be easier to identify the bird you see. Luckily some warblers’ songs sound more distinctive than others.

Warblers’ songs can be described as buzzy, clear, or a trill and they may rise in pitch or fall, and they have several different sounds going on. A buzzy note sounds insect-like, a clear note is like a whistle, and a trill is so fast you can’t hear the individual notes.

For all of the warblers in this guide, you can hear their song, but you can check out this guide to 13 easy to recognize warbler songs to help.

Warblers with Buzzy songs:

  • Black-throated Blue Warblers’ song rises and is buzzy
  • Prairie Warblers’ songs are also buzzy and rising
  • Black-throated Green Warblers songs are also buzzy but with a couple of clear notes in the middle
  • Blackpoll Warblers’ songs are clear and steady but sound like the buzz of an insect
  • Prairie Warblers’ song is buzzy and rises in pitch
  • Palm Warblers’ song is buzzy

Warblers with songs with clear notes:

  • Common Yellowthroats’ song is made up of a series of notes that rise and fall and is then repeated
  • Ovenbird – series of notes that rise and fall
  • Hooded Warblers
  • Chestnut-sided Warblers’ song is a series of clear falling notes that speeds up at the end
  • Yellow-rumped Warblers’ make a series of clear notes that fades out at the end
  • Yellow Warblers’ song speeds up
  • Northern Parula has a rising trill that ends with a different note, almost like a period to stop
  • Wilson’s Warblers is a series of clear falling notes that speed up

44 Species of Warbler In Arizona:

1. Yellow-rumped Warbler

yellow rumped warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler ‘Audubon’
Yellow rumped Warbler Myrtle
Yellow-rumped Warbler Myrtle

Yellow-rumped Warblers are mainly spotted in Arizona during winter and occur in 33% of checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are gray with flashes of yellow on the face, sides, and rump and white in the wings. Females may be slightly brown, and winter birds are paler brown with bright yellow rumps and sides turning bright yellow and gray again in spring.

There are two subspecies, the Myrtle Warbler of the eastern US and boreal forests of Canada, which lacks the yellow throat, and Audubon’s Warbler of the west, which also has more white in the wings.

  • Setophaga coronata
  • Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (12-13 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)

Yellow-rumped Warblers breed predominantly in Canada and parts of the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains.

During migration, they can be seen in the Midwest before overwintering in southern and southwestern US states and the Pacific Coast and into Mexico and Central America.

You can find Yellow-rumped Warblers in coniferous forests, especially during the breeding season. During winter, they can be found in open areas with fruiting shrubs. In summer, they eat mostly insects and on migration, and in winter, they eat mostly fruit, including bayberry and wax myrtle. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler Song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC602699. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/602699.

Nests of Yellow-rumped Warblers are made by females in conifer trees from twigs, pine needles, and grass and lined with soft grass, moss, and hair. They lay up to six eggs which take around two weeks to hatch and a further two weeks to leave the nest.

Attract Yellow-rumped Warblers to your backyard with sunflower seeds, suet, raisins, and peanut butter.

Fun Fact: Yellow-rumped Warblers form flocks numbering thousands in the winter, and they can be aggressive to any other species getting too close.

2. Lucy’s Warbler

Lucy's Warbler
Credit: Mick Thompson

Lucy’s Warblers spend the breeding season in Arizona, mostly in the west and south of the state. They are recorded in 17% of summer checklists.

Lucy’s Warblers are small, plain birds with the distinction of being the only warblers that nest in the deserts of the Southwest. Adult Lucy’s Warblers have gray heads, white eyerings, a reddish patch on the crowns of their heads and on their rumps, and whitish throats, breasts, and bellies. Juveniles have the same coloring but without the cinnamon-colored patch on the head. 

  • Leiothlypis luciae
  • Length: 4.25 inches (11 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2 oz (6 g)
  • Wingspan: 7 inches (18 cm)

Lucy’s Warblers breed in southwestern US states before migrating to Mexico.

You can find Lucy’s Warblers in shrubby canyon areas in deserts, particularly around mesquite shrubs, tamarisk, acacia, and willows.  You can also find them near stream beds, and at higher elevations, in forests with ash, walnut, and oak trees. 

Lucy’s Warblers usually hop about in mesquite trees and other bushes in search of caterpillars, beetles, and other insects. 

Lucy’s Warblers’ song:

Credit: Frank Lambert, XC408586. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/408586.

Nests of Lucy’s Warblers are mostly in natural cavities, and they are actually the only warblers (aside from the prothonotary) that build their nests this way. They have been found to use old holes vacated by woodpeckers for their own nests. 

They fill up the hollow space with debris and other material and then place their nests on top of that, just enough that they’re able to see out of them. Nests are made with grass, weeds, bark, and mesquite leaf stems.  Females may lay three to seven eggs, but both parents take turns in the incubation, which usually takes ten to twelve days. 

Attract Lucy’s Warblers to your backyard by providing a nest box. A study by the Tucson Audubon Society shows that Lucy’s Warblers often use a triangular nest box over any other type. 

Fun Fact: Lucy’s Warblers sing on mesquite branches while they forage for food. 

3. Yellow Warbler

yellow warbler

Yellow Warblers are spotted in Arizona from March to October and occur in up to 14% of summer checklists.

Yellow Warblers are small bright yellow birds with a yellow-green back, and the males have chestnut streaks on the breast. Females and juveniles are not as bright as males and lack the streaks.

  • Setophaga petechia
  • Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-11 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)

Yellow Warblers migrate a long distance to breed in Canada and the US, except for southeastern states, before heading back into Central and South America for winter. However, they can be seen during migration in southeastern US states.

You can find Yellow Warblers along streams and wetlands in thickets and along the edges of fields foraging for insects, including caterpillars, midges, beetles, bugs, and wasps.

Yellow Warbler Song:

Credit: Richard E. Webster, XC662546. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/662546.

Nests of Yellow Warblers are in small trees or shrubs and made from bark, grass, and plant material woven together and secured with spider webs to form a cup. It is then lined with softer material such as hair, feathers, and plant down.

They lay up to seven eggs which take around twelve days to hatch and an additional ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Yellow Warblers to your backyard with suet, oranges, peanut butter, and plants with berries. Also, plant native plants that attract insects without pesticides or being too tidy! Also, try birdbaths with fountains near secluded planting to provide protection.

Fun Fact: Cowbirds often lay their eggs in Yellow Warblers’ nests, and if detected, the Yellow Warblers build a new nest on top of the old nest and eggs and start again – up to six times!

4. Orange-crowned Warbler

orange-crowned-warbler

Orange-crowned Warblers are often spotted during winter in Arizona, and they are recorded in 9% of checklists at this time. However, some stay here all year.

Orange-crowned Warblers are not as brightly colored as other warblers with their yellow-olive coloring, which is more yellow on the Pacific Coast. Their orange crown is rarely seen. Males and females look the same but juveniles are grayer.

  • Leiothlypis celata
  • Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-11 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5 in (19 cm)

Orange-crowned Warblers breed in Canada and western US states before migrating to the Pacific, East and Gulf Coasts, and Mexico. They can also be seen during migration in all US states, except the northeastern.

You can find Orange-crowned Warblers in shrubs and low vegetation, but they breed in open woodland. Their diet consists mainly of spiders and insects such as caterpillars and flies. They will also eat fruit, berries, and seeds and regularly visit backyard feeders.

Orange-crowned Warbler Song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC671865. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/671865.

Nests of Orange-crowned Warblers are near to or on the ground and made from dead leaves, twigs, and stems and then lined with soft grass and animal hair. They lay up to six eggs.

Attract Orange-crowned Warblers to your yard with suet and peanut butter or hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water nectar.

Fun Fact: Orange-crowned Warblers will drink from the sapwells of sapsuckers and woodpeckers.

5. Common Yellowthroat

common yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat Male
Common Yellowthroat female
Common Yellowthroat Female

Common Yellowthroats can be spotted all year in Arizona, but they are usually seen during the breeding season, from April to October. They appear in 9% of summer checklists and 3% of winter checklists for the state.

Common Yellowthroats are small songbirds that are brownish on the back and bright yellow underneath, with long tails. The males have a black masks across their faces. The brightness of the yellow can vary geographically, and they may be more olive in parts underneath.

  • Geothlypis trichas
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (9-10 g)
  • Wingspan: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)

Common Yellowthroats spend the summer breeding over most of North America, except Alaska and northern Canada. Some remain all year along the Gulf Coast and Pacific Southwest. Then, they migrate south for winter.

You can find Common Yellowthroats often in marshy or wetland areas and brushy fields living in thick, tangled vegetation. 

Common Yellowthroat Song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC629250. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/629250.

Nests of Common Yellowthroats are built by females near the ground in marshy areas and supported by reeds. The nest is made from grass and sedges supported on a platform of leaves and grass. They lay up to six eggs which take around twelve days to hatch and the same for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Common Yellowthroats to large backyards with dense vegetation and native plants to attract insects.

Fun Fact: The black mask of Common Yellowthroats is a sign to courting males that that bird is male, and they attack when fake birds are used, but they do not attack when the bird has no mask.

6. Wilson’s Warbler

wilsons warbler
Male
Wilson Warbler female
Female

Wilson’s Warblers are mainly spotted migrating across Arizona from March to May and again from August to October. They occur in up to 22% of checklists during migration.

Wilson’s Warblers are tiny round yellow warblers with a large black cap in the males and a smaller black cap in females.

  • Cardellina pusilla
  • Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)
  • Wingspan: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)

Wilson’s Warblers breed in Canada, Alaska, and northwestern US states but can also be seen across all US states during migration. They winter in Mexico and Central America.

You can find Wilson’s Warblers along streams in thickets and near forest edges foraging for insects and their larvae and spiders.

Wilson’s Warblers song:

Credit: Thomas G. Graves, XC561438. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/561438.

Nests of Wilson’s Warblers are well hidden on the ground near trees or shrubs and made from leaves and sedges for the base. Grass, bark, moss, and plant material are woven into a cup shape and lined with soft grass and animal hair. They lay around five eggs which take about eleven days to hatch and an additional ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Wilson’s Warblers to your backyard with native trees and shrubs, but they do not visit feeders.

Fun Fact: Wilson’s Warblers distract potential nest predators by pretending to have a broken wing and drawing the predator away before flying off.

7. Black-throated Gray Warbler

Black-throated_Gray_Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warblers are spotted during the breeding season in northern Arizona, and a few can be seen during winter in the south of the state. However, they are more common during migration from April to June and August to October.

Black-throated Gray Warblers are black-and-white streaked warblers with a gray back and yellow spot in front of the eyes. Males have more black on their throats than females.

  • Setophaga nigrescens
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (7-10 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-7.8 in (19-19.7 cm)

Black-throated Gray Warblers breed in western and south-central US states and the coast of British Columbia before migrating to Mexico for winter. 

You can find Black-throated Gray Warblers searching for insects on trees in woodlands and on shrubs.

Black-throated Gray Warblers song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC648117. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/648117.

Nests of Black-throated Gray Warblers are in trees and made by the female from bark, grass, and moss. They lay up to five eggs.

Fun Fact: Although Black-throated Gray Warblers are easy to observe, can be found at lower levels in trees, and are not shy birds, very little is known about them.

8. Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow-breasted Chats spend summer in Arizona and are mainly spotted from mid-April to mid-October. They appear in 9% of checklists at this time.

Yellow-breasted Chats have bright yellow breasts and long tails. They are olive-gray on the back and have gray heads with white eye and chin markings. Their lower bellies are white.

  • Icteria virens
  • Length: 7.1 in (18 cm)
  • Weight: 0.8-1.1 oz (23-31 g)
  • Wingspan: 9.8 in (25 cm)

Yellow-breasted Chats breed over most US states and just into southern Canada. They spend the winter in Central America and coastal Mexico.

You can spot Yellow-breasted Chats in blackberry bushes, fields, and forest edges feeding on spiders, insects, and berries.

Yellow-breasted Chat song:

Credit: Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC512276. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/512276.

Nests of Yellow-breasted Chats are hidden in shrubs and made from grass, leaves, and plant material woven into a cup. Brown-headed Cowbirds often lay their eggs in their nests to raise their chicks.

They lay up to six eggs which take about eleven days to hatch, and up to ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Male Yellow-breasted Chats fight by grappling with their feet, and they also make a dramatic flight display while singing and dropping towards the ground, finishing with a thump of their wings.

9. Townsend’s Warbler

Townsend Warbler

Townsend’s Warblers are mainly spotted in Arizona during migration and occur in up to 9% of checklists during this time. However, some can also be seen during winter.

Townsend’s Warblers are small black and yellow birds. Males are striking with their black crowns, cheeks, and throats. They also have yellow eyebrows, a yellow crescent under the eye, and yellow bellies. They have black spots on their yellow upper backs. They have black wings with two white wingbars. Their bellies are white. 

Female Townsend’s Warblers are lighter in color but with almost the same patterns. However, females don’t have the distinctive black throat that males do. Juveniles are even lighter in color. Their backs, crowns, and cheeks are olive-green. They also do not have the black throat of the males, but they do have the streaks on the chest, just light-colored. 

  • Setophaga townsendi
  • Length: 4.75 – 5 inches (12 – 13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5 – 8 inches (19 – 20 cm)

Townsend’s Warblers breed in western Canada, northwestern US states, and Alaska before migrating to the Pacific Coast, Mexico, and Central America.

You can find Townsend’s Warblers in tall and dense coniferous forests in the coastal belt and the mountains. They prefer areas with pine, oak, alder, madrones, and laurels. 

Townsend’s Warblers, with their partiality to high and tall trees, naturally forage in them, too. They search among twigs and branches for insects like caterpillars, bugs, beetles, and leafhoppers. They will also hover among foliage just to get their food. 

In winter, Townsend’s Warblers are known to feed on the sugary excretions of scale insects. They will actually set up and defend their territory around these insects. 

Townsend’s Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC710935. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/710935.

Nests of Townsend’s Warblers are also located high up in the trees, usually placed on top of a branch. They are made of grass stems, mosses, and barks and lined with feathers and animal hair. 

Attract Townsend’s Warblers to your backyard in the winter by preparing mealworms, peanut butter, and suet. They usually drop by backyard feeders when temperatures get too cold.

Fun Fact:  The Townsend’s Warbler got its name from American ornithologist John Kirk Townsend.

10. Grace’s Warbler

Grace’s Warblers
Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy 

Grace’s Warblers spend the breeding season in Arizona and occur in 5% of summer checklists. They arrive in March and start to migrate in September.

Adult Grace’s Warblers look very similar. They both have dark gray crowns and a white patch at the end of their yellow eyebrow, a little bit at the back of the eye. Their back is also dark gray, and they have bright yellow throats and breasts. They both have white bellies with black broken streaks on their sides, and they have two obvious white wing bars.

Their main, though less obvious difference, is in the outline of their eyering. They both have yellow eyerings but a female’s outline is gray, while the male’s is black and you can see it on the bottom half of the eye. 

  • Setophaga graciae
  • Length: 4.75 inches (12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.75 inches (20 cm)

Grace’s Warblers migrate in to breed in southwestern US states, but they stay all year in Mexico and Central America.

You can find Grace’s Warblers in habitats with mature coniferous trees, particularly pine, oak, and spruce-fir forests. 

Grace’s Warblers prefer to stay safe at the tops of the trees because it’s where they can hop from branch to branch among trees or hide among the pine needles. They also spend their time catching insects from this height or foraging among the leaves for the insects hiding underneath them. 

Grace’s Warblers’ song:

Credit: Richard E. Webster, XC451084. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/451084.

Nests of Grace’s Warblers are also found in the pine trees. They’re made of leaves, stems, and cocoon materials, and with fur and feathers to make them soft on the inside. Usually, they’re cradled on a high tree branch. Females lay three to five eggs with an incubation period of eleven to twelve days. 

Fun Fact: The Grace’s Warblers got its name from Grace Darling Coues, the sister of ornithologist Elliott Coues. 

11. Red-faced Warbler

Red-faced Warbler cc
Credit: Tom Benson

Red-faced Warblers are mainly spotted in Arizona from April to September and appear in 4% of summer checklists.

Red-faced warblers are striking, multi-colored birds. Their faces, forehead, and throat are bright red. They have black ear patches and crowns (that resemble a bonnet on their heads), a white nape, belly, and rear, and a gray back.

  • Cardellina rubrifrons
  • Length: 5 inches (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5 inches ( 19 cm)

Red-faced Warblers breed in southern US states before migrating to Mexico and Central America.

You can find Red-faced Warblers in high forest mountains where pine, oak, alder, and other coniferous trees are. 

Red-faced Warblers often forage for food high up in the trees, particularly in dense foliage. They hop from branch to branch, in search of small insects, flies, and leafhoppers. From their height, they can instantly take flight to catch insects in mid-air. 

Red-faced Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC153663. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/153663.

Nests of Red-faced Warblers are, surprisingly, located on the ground, concealed under a shrub, log or rock. They may also be hidden under debris on the forest floor and are made of leaves, grass, barks, and pine needles. 

The females lay three to five eggs, with incubation taking about two weeks. The young leave the nest about thirteen days after hatching, and the parents divide their brood in half, so each parent takes care of half of the fledglings for about five weeks. 

Fun Fact: Red-faced Warblers and the Painted Redstart are the only two warblers that have bright red coloring. 

12. MacGillivray’s Warbler

MacGillivray's Warbler
Credit: Maggie.Smith

MacGillivray’s Warblers are usually seen migrating across Arizona from April to June and August to October.

MacGillivray’s Warblers are small but chunky birds. Males have slate gray heads, black bands across the eyes, and grayish spots that darken to black from under the bill to the throat. Females have a light-gray head and throat, with no black markings. They both have olive-gray backs, yellow bellies, and white, crescent-shaped partial eyerings. 

  • Geothlypis tolmiei
  • Length:5.25 inches (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.25 inches (21 cm)

MacGillivray’s Warblers breed mainly in northwestern US states and western Canada before migrating to Mexico and Central America.

You can find MacGillivray’s Warblers in areas with dense shrubbery or vegetation. They also abound in shady thickets near streams, in logged forests with fallen trees, or in burned areas with dead trees. 

MacGillivray’s Warblers spend their time foraging on the ground, either hopping or flying low, in search of insects, like beetles and caterpillars. 

MacGillivray’s Warblers’ song:

Credit: Bobby Wilcox, XC667171. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/667171.

Nests of MacGillivray’s Warblers are concealed in thick shrubs, around one to five feet above the ground. They are placed in upright forks of scrub oaks or fir saplings. There are also some nests that are placed on the ground within tall weeds and ferns. 

They are usually constructed out of weed stems, barks, and dry grass. The female lays three to six eggs which she alone incubates for about eleven days. 

Fun Fact: MacGillivray’s Warblers were named after Dr. W. MacGillivray, who was a friend of John James Audubon. However, John Kirk Townsend had already given the species a name, “Tolmie’s Warbler”, in honor of Dr. W. T. Tolmie. Thus, the scientific name “tolmiei” was the compromise. 

13. Virginia’s Warbler

Virginia's Warbler cc
Credit: Photo Kent

Virginia’s Warblers are spotted in Arizona during summer and occur in 2% of checklists at this time. They are mainly seen from mid-March to September, but a few stay until mid-December.

Virginia’s Warblers are very small and easily overlooked birds, but they have really striking colors. Males and females are pretty similar in coloring. They both have gray heads, backs, and bellies. Their heads have a reddish patch on the crown. 

They seem to look like they’re always surprised because of their dark eyes with white eyering. Their throats are white, their chests and rumps are yellow, and their bellies are gray. Their wings and tail are black. 

Females may have less brilliant crowns compared to males. Juveniles are paler in color, and they don’t have the reddish crown common to adults. 

  • Leiothlypis virginiae
  • Length: 4.5 – 4.75 inches (11 – 12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.25 – 7.75 inches (18 – 20 cm)

Virginia’s Warblers are found in southwestern US states and are not found in Virginia as their name comes from the person who discovered them – Virginia Anderson.

You can find Virginia’s Warblers in pinyon-juniper brushlands, pine and oak woodlands, and woodlands near streams. In winter, they live among dry scrub.

These Virginia Warblers are so small that it’s difficult to observe them, so not much is known about their diet. They have been observed to hop from branch to branch among the trees at mid-level, and they’re presumed to eat insects like other warblers. 

Virginia Warblers’ song:

Credit: Ned Bohman, XC658017. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/658017.

Nests are located on the ground and are pretty hard to find. They’re well-concealed among dead leaves at the bottom of a shrub or tree. The female probably built it from coarse grass, bark strips, roots, and moss. The female lays around three to five eggs and most likely incubates them on her own. 

Fun Fact:  Because of their size, Virginia’s Warblers are hard to see, but you just might catch them because they frequently wag their tail up and down while they’re on branches of pine and oak trees. 

14. Nashville Warbler

nashville warbler

Nashville Warblers can be spotted in Arizona during spring and fall migration in April and from August to mid-October.

Nashville Warblers are mostly yellow with a green back and gray head with a white eyering. Females and juveniles are not as bright as males. They have distinctive white bellies between yellow breasts and under their tails.

  • Leiothlypis ruficapilla
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.5 oz (6.7-13.9 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.7-7.9 in (17-20 cm)

Nashville Warblers breed in northeastern US states and Canada and a smaller population in northwestern US states and into British Columbia. They can also be seen during migration in most states.

You can find Nashville Warbler in scrubby habitats and low deciduous forests, hunting for insects.

Nashville Warbler song:

Credit: Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC512262. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/512262.

Nests of Nashville Warblers are close to the ground and made from bark, moss, and grass woven into a cup and lined with pine needles, soft grass, and animal hair. They lay around five eggs which take twelve days to hatch and an additional ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Nashville Warblers to your backyard in winter to southern US states with suet.

Fun Fact: The first time Nashville Warblers migrate, they go along the Atlantic Coast, but after that, they always go inland.

15. Hermit Warbler

Hermit Warbler
Credit: Channel City Camera Club

Hermit Warblers can be seen migrating across Arizona, mostly from April to May and August to mid-October. They are recorded in up to 4% of checklists during migration.

Hermit Warblers are small, cute warblers because of their bright, yellow heads. Males have black throats, females have less-defined black throats, and juveniles have gray throats. They all have grayish-white chests and bellies, two white wingbars, and gray backs. Males have additional streaking on their flanks, while females and juveniles don’t have them. 

  • Setophaga occidentalis
  • Length: 5 inches (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.75 inches (20 cm)

Hermit Warblers breed on the West Coast and can be seen migrating to Mexico and Central America.

You can find Hermit Warblers among the high pine, douglas-fir, spruce, and coniferous trees. In winter, they move to pine-oak forests. 

Like other warblers, Hermit Warblers also prefer to stay high up in the trees feasting on insects and spiders. They have the ability to hang upside down from branches in order to probe under the leaves for larvae and pupae. 

Hermit Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC150324. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/150324.

Nests of the Hermit Warblers are also high up in the trees. They are usually made of stems, grass, twigs, and pine needles.  Females lay from three to five eggs, and incubate them probably for about twelve days. 

Fun Fact: Hermit Warblers hybridize with Townsend’s Warblers, and female Hermit Warblers seem to prefer to mate with male Townsend’s Warblers but not the other way around. 

16. Black-and-white Warbler

Black and white Warbler male
Male
Black and white warbler famle
Female

Black-and-white Warblers are not very common in Arizona, but they are usually spotted here in winter from October to March.

Black-and-white Warblers are pretty distinctive and easier to identify with their stiped appearance. Males have a large black patch across the eye and cheek and are a darker black than females.

  • Mniotilta varia
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (8-15 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)

Black-and-white Warblers breed in the eastern United States and Canada. They spend the winter in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, and down through Mexico, Baja California, the Caribbean, and northern South America. They can be seen during migration in central US states.

You can spot Black-and-white Warblers hopping up and down on tree trunks and branches in forests, looking for insects.

Black-and-white Warbler song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC600300. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/600300.

Nests of Black-and-white Warblers are hidden close to or on the ground, often under a log or shrub. The nest is made from bark, grass, and pine needles woven into a cup. They lay around five eggs which take about eleven days to hatch and an additional ten days for the young to leave the nest.

17. Rufous-capped Warbler

The Rufous-capped Warbler
Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy

Rufous-capped Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona, but they have been spotted mainly during August in the southeast of the state.

The Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons) looks extremely similar to the Chestnut-capped warbler (Basileuterus delattrii) and were once grouped together as one species. In 2021, the Chestnut-capped warbler was recently separated as its own species

Rufous-capped Warblers have reddish-brown crowns, white eyebrows, black eyepatch that turns reddish just past the eyes, and white cheeks. Their throats and upper breasts are bright yellow, their backs, wings, and tails are olive-green, and their bellies are white. 

  • Basileuterus rufifrons
  • Length: 5 – 5.5 inches (13 -1 4 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
  • Wingspan: 8 inches (20 cm)

Rufous-capped Warblers live mainly in Mexico, but they also are found in southern Us states.

You can find Rufous-capped Warblers in oak woodland canyon bottoms with dense vegetation flicking its tail up. 

Their diet consists of insects and spiders, which they forage on the ground, quite different from other warblers that fly from atop their perches to catch their prey in the air. 

Rufous-capped Warblers’ song:

Credit: Manuel Grosselet, XC661661. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/661661.

Nests of Rufous-capped Warblers are made of grass and plants built next to rocks or stumps or on the side of steep banks. Females lay only two to four eggs which she incubates for two weeks. 

Fun Fact: The Rufous-capped Warbler often moves quickly with its tail raised and flicking about. 

18. Northern Parula

Northern Parulas are usually spotted in Arizona from November to January, but they are not very common birds here.

Northern Warblers are a colorful contrast of blueish-gray and yellow. They are bluish-gray on the back with a yellow patch on the back and with two white wingbars.

Males have a chestnut band that separates the yellow throat and chest that adorns both males and females. Females are paler than males and lack the chestnut band. Juveniles are paler.

  • Setophaga americana
  • Length: 4.3-4.7 in (11-12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.4 oz (5-11 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)

Northern Parulas breed in the eastern US states and southeastern Canada before heading to Central America and the Caribbean for winter. They may remain for winter in southern Florida.

You can find Northern Parulas feeding on insects high up in deciduous forests.

Northern Parula Song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC599828. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/599828.

Nests of Northern Parula are made in long clumps of lichen and moss that drape from the branches. The best way to spot them is by looking up at large clumps of hanging moss in the summer.

Attract Northern Parula to your backyard with native trees and shrubs, especially those with berries, and leave brush piles for insect-friendly areas.

Fun Fact: Northern Parula females do the rearing of young, including incubation of the eggs and feeding them. Males sing and remove fecal sacs!

19. Northern Waterthrush

Northern Waterthrushes

Northern Waterthrushes are not often seen in Arizona, but they have been spotted here during migration.

Northern Waterthrushes are large, thrush-like birds whose males and females bear similar traits. They both have brown heads with thick, white eyebrows, dark brown backs, and white bellies with dark, heavy streaking from their throats all the way to their rumps. 

  • Parkesia noveboracensis
  • Length: 5.75 inches (15 cm)
  • Weight: 0.8 oz (23 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.75 inches (22 cm)

Northern Waterthrushes breed in Canada, Alaska, and northeastern US states before migrating to Mexico, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. Some may remain all year in Central and South America.

You can find Northern Waterthrushes in dark, woody swamps, thickets, and bogs. If there is any still or sluggish water in the forests, you’ll probably find a Northern Waterthrush around it. In winter, in the tropics, you will usually find them among mangroves. 

The Northern Waterthrushes are aquatic and terrestrial foragers. With their long legs, they are able to walk on shallow water in search of water beetles, mosquitoes, slugs, crustaceans, snails, and sometimes, small fish. They also eat caterpillars, moths, and ants, which they find under leaves. 

Northern Waterthrushes’ song:

Credit: Jeff Dyck, XC416169. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/416169.

Nests of Northern Waterthrushes are usually located in hollows or crevices near water. They can be in a moss-covered stump or under a jutting bank, but the nests are usually hidden among ferns. Females build them from moss, twigs, pine needles, bark strips, and roots, where she lays three to six eggs. She alone incubates the eggs for about two weeks. 

Fun Fact: Northern Waterthrushes usually walk on the ground rather than hop. When walking, they bob their tails, making them appear out of balance. 

20. Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Louisiana Waterthrushes are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona, but there have been recorded sightings here, mainly in the southeast of the state during winter.

Louisiana Waterthrushes are drab in comparison to other warblers. They are brown on top and pale below. They have a white eyebrow stripe and long pink legs.

  • Parkesia motacilla
  • Length: 5.9-6.1 in (15-15.5 cm)
  • Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz (18.2-22.9 g)
  • Wingspan: 9.4-10.6 in (24-27 cm)

Louisiana Waterthrush breed in eastern US states and can be seen in the southeast during migration. They spend the winter in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, arriving back in spring early in the year.

You can find Louisiana Waterthrush along streams and moving water in woodlands hunting for insects, vertebrates, and larvae.

Louisiana Waterthrushes’ song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC691609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/691609.

Nests of Louisiana Waterthrush are along the bank of a stream and hidden in roots or under logs. The nest is made from leaves, pine needles, and other plant material and is held together with mud. This is then lined with softer material such as moss and hair. They lay up to six eggs, which take up to two weeks to hatch.

Fun Fact: You can tell Louisiana, and Northern Waterthrushes apart by the larger bill of Louisiana and its preference for running water, but Northern Waterthrushes prefer still water.

21. American Redstart

American redstart
Male
Female American redstart
Female

American Redstarts are not very common in Arizona, but they have been spotted migrating across the state.

American Redstarts are mostly black with bright orange patches and a white belly. Females are olive-gray instead of black and have yellow patches.

  • Setophaga ruticilla
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (6-9 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.3-7.5 in (16-19 cm)

American Redstarts breed in eastern US states and Canada and into northwestern US states. They may also be seen during migration in central and western US states.

You can find American Redstarts in deciduous woodlands eating insects and also in backyards and thickets eating berries such as serviceberry and magnolia.

American Redstart song: Their song drops in pitch at the end.

Credit: Nick Kiehl, XC522368. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/522368.

Nests of American Redstarts are close to the trunk in trees or large shrubs and are made from bark, grass, and other plant material. They lay up to five eggs which take just under two weeks to hatch and a week or two for the young to leave the nest.

Attract American Redstarts to your backyard with berry plants such as magnolia and serviceberry.

Fun Fact: American Redstart parents only feed certain chicks each rather than feeding them all.

22. Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut sided warbler male
Male
chestnut sided warbler female
Female (winter)

Chestnut-sided Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona, but some can be spotted here during winter.

Chestnut-sided Warbler males have bright yellow crowns, and black masks and are gray underneath with chestnut down the sides. In winter, males molt into green and white coloring and look similar to breeding females.

Females are paler than males and do not have black on their face. They still have the chestnut sides and yellow crown during the breeding season, but in winter, they lack the chestnut sides, and the crown is brighter. Juveniles are similar to winter females.

  • Setophaga pensylvanica
  • Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (10.7-14.3 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-8.3 in (19-21 cm)

Chestnut-sided Warblers breed in northeastern US states and southeastern Canada and can also be seen during migration over eastern US states.

You can find Chestnut-sided Warblers on forest edges or thickets, mainly looking for insects. They especially like forests that have been damaged and are regenerating after fires, logging, or floods.

Chestnut-sided Warbler song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC600739. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/600739.

Nests of Chestnut-sided Warblers are low to the ground in trees and shrubs and made from grass, weeds, and bark woven into a cup shape and lined with softer material. They lay up to five eggs which take twelve days to hatch and around eleven days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Chestnut-sided Warblers only like forests regenerating forests, and once they are restored after about ten years, they find other forests to breed in.

23. Palm Warbler

palm warbler

Palm Warblers are considered rare species in Arizona, but they are occasionally spotted here during winter.

The palm warbler has a rusty red patch on the top of its head and is a browny-olive color over the rest of its body. Birds in the west have whiter bellies. Males and females look the same in the breeding season and non-breeding birds’ crowns are duller.

  • Setophaga palmarum
  • Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (7-13 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-8.3 in (20-21 cm)

Palm Warblers breed predominantly in Canada and can be seen during migration in eastern US states. Some winter in Florida and along the southeastern coast.

You can spot Palm Warblers mainly during the spring and fall migration in weedy fields, forest edges, and scrubby areas. They are often found foraging along the ground for insects, mixed in with other birds such as Sparrows, Juncos, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Palm Warbler song:

Credit: Richard E. Webster, XC189604. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/189604.

Nests of Palm Warblers are in bogs and boreal forests on the ground and are made from grass, sedge, and ferns woven into a cup shape and lined with soft grass, feathers, and animal hair. They lay around five eggs.

Attract Palm Warblers to your backyard by planting native plants that attract insects and also plant bayberry or hawthorn for their berries.

Fun Fact: Unlike most warblers, Palm Warblers usually walk on the ground bobbing their tails while looking for insects.

24. Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Tennessee Warblers are rare or accidental species in Arizona, but some have been spotted in the south of the state during winter.

Tennessee Warblers males have gray heads, green backs, and are pale whitish underneath. Females are greener with yellow underneath and with green heads. Males have a white eyestripe, and females have a yellow eyestripe. They have white under their tails.

  • Leiothlypis peregrina
  • Length: 3.9-5.1 in (10-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (8-10 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-7.9 in (19-20 cm)

Tennessee Warblers fly a long way from Central America up to Canada. They can be seen during migration across eastern US states.

You can find Tennessee Warblers eating and hunting mostly for caterpillars on trees and shrubs in woodlands.

Tennessee Warblers’ song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC444969. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/444969.

Nests of Tennessee Warblers are hidden in moss or the roots of trees and made from grass and weeds. They lay around six eggs which take about twelve days to hatch and the same again for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Although called a Tenessee warbler, they do not breed or spend much time in Tenessee! They were so named as this was the first place they were spotted and were given this name.

25. Hooded Warbler

Hooded warbler

Hooded Warblers are considered rare species in Arizona, but there have been some recorded sightings in the southeast of the state.

Male Hooded Warblers have a bright yellow face with a distinctive black hood and throat. They are yellow underneath and olive-green above. They are white under their tail, which is visible when they flick their tails up.

Females and immature are more yellow and without the black face markings.

  • Setophaga citrina
  • Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-12 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.9 in (17.5 cm)

Hooded Warblers breed in eastern US states before heading south into Central America and the Caribbean for winter.

You can find Hooded Warblers in forests with dense understories to hunt for insects and spiders.

Hooded Warbler song:

Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC425019. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/425019.

Nests of Hooded Warblers are near forests and clearings and built in shrubs from bark, grass, and plant material woven into a cup. They lay around four eggs, which take twelve days to hatch and a further nine days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Hooded Warblers to your backyard with native shrubs and plants that attract insects and provide protection.

Fun Fact: Hooded Warblers have white spots on their tails which is thought to startle insects so they can catch them more easily.

26. Black-throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warblers are rare species in Arizona, but you might spot some in the state during winter.

Male Black-throated Blue Warblers are a lovely rich blue color on the back and white underneath. They are unusual amongst the predominantly yellow warblers. Females are very plain in comparison and are grayish-olive.

  • Setophaga caerulescens
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-12 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-7.9 in (19-20 cm)

Black-throated Blue Warblers breed in northeastern US states and Canada. They can also be seen during migration over eastern US states before wintering in Central America and the Caribbean.

You can find Black-throated Blue Warblers in lower areas of deciduous forests, shrubby areas, and sometimes backyards looking for spiders, flies, and caterpillars.

Black-throated Blue Warblers song:

Credit: Étienne Leroy, XC415422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/415422.

Nests of Black-throated Blue Warblers are hidden in dense shrubs and made from bark held together with spiders’ webs and saliva. The nest is lined with animal hair and pine needles. They lay up to five eggs which take about two weeks to hatch and ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Black-throated Blue Warblers listen out for males singing after the breeding season as this shows areas where males were successful as unsuccessful males do not sing.

27. Ovenbird

Ovenbird

Ovenbirds are considered rare species in Arizona, and some have occasionally been spotted here. The last was around Madera Canyon and Cameron in 2022.

Ovenbirds look drab compared to other warblers with their olive-green backs and black-and-white spotted underside.

  • Seiurus aurocapilla
  • Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.6-1.0 oz (16-28 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)

Ovenbirds breed in northeastern US states and Canada, the Midwest, and up into northwest Canada. They can be seen during migration in eastern US states. They spend the winter in Florida, Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean.

You can find Ovenbirds on the ground rummaging through leaf litter in forests, looking for insects.

Ovenbird Song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC602036. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/602036.

Nests of Ovenbirds are usually on the ground, and the female creates a domed nest from leaves, grass, bark, and other plant material. The nest has a side entrance and is lined with animal hair. They lay around five eggs which take up to two weeks to hatch and up to ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Ovenbirds get their name from the unusually shaped nest they build, which resembles the shape of a dutch oven.

28. Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warblers are rare species in Arizona and were last spotted around San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Hassayampa River Preserve in 2021.

Prothonotary Warblers are bright yellow with blue-gray wings and tails. They are large for Warblers and have thick black beaks, and are white under their tails. Females are less bright than males.

  • Protonotaria citrea
  • Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.44 oz (12.5 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.75 in (22 cm)

Prothonotary Warblers breed in eastern US states, and they spend the winter in Mexico and down to northern South America.

You can find Prothonotary Warblers near streams and wet woodlands foraging for spiders, insects, and snails. In winter, they will also eat fruit and seeds.

Prothonotary Warblers song:

Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC565451. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/565451.

Nests of Prothonotary Warblers use abandoned woodpecker nest holes in trees that are near water. Males place moss in the hole, and then the female makes a cup-shaped nest from grass and leaves, and other plant material.

They lay up to seven eggs which take about two weeks to hatch and an additional ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Prothonotary Warblers to your backyard with a nest box if you live near wet areas.

Fun Fact: Prothonotaries are the bright yellow robes worn by members of the Roman Catholic church, and that is how the Prothonotary Warblers got their name.

29. Yellow-throated Warbler

Yellow-throated Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona, and they were last spotted around Portal, Catalina Mountain, and Page Springs in 2020.

Yellow-throated Warblers have gray and white bodies with black stripes and bright yellow throats. They have white bellies and tails when looking from below. Females and juveniles are paler.

  • Setophaga dominica
  • Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-11 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.3 in (21 cm)

Yellow-throated Warblers breed across the southeastern US states and spend winter in Florida, the Caribbean, and along the Gulf Coast into Central America. Some birds may remain resident all year in Florida.

You can find Yellow-throated Warblers usually at the top of pine trees looking for insects, but they may forage lower down during migration.

Yellow-throated Warbler song:

Credit: Paul Marvin, XC460438. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/460438.

Nests of Yellow-throated Warblers are built in Spanish moss hanging from the branches of trees. They make a pocket in the moss and create a nest from grasses, weeds, and moss woven into a cup. They lay around four eggs which take up to two weeks to hatch.

Attract Yellow-throated Warblers to your backyard with native plants and wild and unkept areas of your yard.

Fun Fact: Yellow-throated Warblers are one of the few birds that have increased in number in recent years. Originally their numbers declined, and their range shrank, but they have increased 50% since 1966.

30. Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers are rare species in Arizona, but they have been recently spotted around Maricopa in 2022.

Magnolia Warblers males are black on the back and yellow underneath. They have black streaking forming a ‘necklace’ on their necks and down over their bellies. Females are grayer on the back and lack the distinctive streaking down the belly.

  • Setophaga magnolia
  • Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.5 oz (6-15 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)

Magnolia Warblers breed across Canada and northeastern US states. They can be seen during migration in the eastern US. They spend the winter in Central America and the Caribbean.

You can find Magnolia Warblers on low branches in forests or parks, so it’s easier to spot them during migration. Their diet is insects and spiders.

Magnolia Warbler song:

Credit: Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC512264. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/512264.

Nests of Magnolia Warblers are a loose construction of grass and weeds built close to the trunk of conifer trees. They lay around four eggs that take about twelve days to hatch and a further nine days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Magnolia Warblers to your backyard with native shrubs and trees for them to rest in during migration.

Fun Fact: Magnolia Warblers show off the white spots on their tails to attract females and to warn off rivals.

31. Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green warbler (Setophaga virens)

Although considered rare species in Arizona, Black-throated Green Warblers were spotted around Santa Cruz River in 2022.

Black-throated Green Warblers are small yellow songbirds with a yellow face and head and olive-yellow back. They have black streaking on the sides and wings and are whitish underneath. Males have large black patches on their throats, but on females and juveniles, this is smaller.

  • Setophaga virens
  • Length: 4.3-4.7 in (11-12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-11 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.7-7.9 in (17-20 cm)

Black-throated Green Warblers can mostly be seen during their long migration over the eastern US up to their breeding grounds in northeastern US states and Canada. Their winter grounds are in Mexico, northern South America, and the Caribbean.

You can find Black-throated Green Warblers high up in forests eating insects, and their black throat is an easier way to tell them apart from other small yellow birds.

Black-throated Green Warblers song:

Credit: Paul Driver, XC187636. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/187636.

Nests of Black-throated Green Warblers are in small trees and close to the truck. The nest is made from twigs, and bark woven together with spiders’ webs and lined with animal hair, moss, and feathers. They lay around four eggs, which take twelve days to hatch and a further ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Black-throated Green Warblers to your backyard with mature trees.

Fun Fact: Male Black-throated Green Warblers can sing over 400 times in an hour and perform a ‘gloating’ flight when they have chased off rivals.

32. Pine Warbler

Although rare species in Arizona, Pine Warblers have been recently spotted around Desert Breeze Park in 2022.

Pine Warblers are small plump yellow birds with olive backs, white lower bellies, and gray wingbars. Females can appear browner and have more white on the belly.

  • Setophaga pinus
  • Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-15 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)

Pine Warblers breed in northeastern US states before heading to southeastern US states. Some remain all year in southeastern US states.

You can find Pine Warblers in pine forests, as their name would suggest, often high up in the trees. They eat caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other insects and larvae, and when the weather is colder, they will eat fruit and seeds.

Pine Warbler Song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC602052. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/602052.

Nests of Pine Warblers are, as you would expect, in pine trees! They are made from twigs, bark, pine needles, and grass, bound with spider silk and lined with feathers and animal hair. They lay up to five eggs which take up to two weeks to hatch and another ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Attract Pine Warblers to your yard with tube feeders and platform feeders with millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet. Also, plant native fruits and vines such as bayberry, grape, sumac, and Virginia creeper.

Fun Fact: Pine Warblers are one of the only warblers to eat seeds mainly, and so you are more likely to see them at backyard feeders.

33. Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)
Male
Prairie warbler female
Female

Prairie Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona, and they were last spotted in the state in 2019.

Prairie Warblers are small songbirds that are olive green on the back and yellow on the throat and belly. They have black streaks on the sides and a dark semicircle under the eye. Female Prairie Warblers are duller in color and may have grayer heads.

  • Setophaga discolor
  • Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
  • Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (6.4-8.8 g)

Prairie Warblers breed in eastern and southeastern US states and spend the winter in Florida and the Caribbean and some coastal areas in Central America.

Some remain all year in Florida and are considered separate subspecies, but they are slightly larger.

Although they are called prairie warblers, they actually live in fields and forests where they eat insects, spiders, and snails. You can spot them bobbing their tails while moving along branches looking for food.

Prairie Warbler Song: They have a distinctive rising song.

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC602057. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/602057.

Nests of Prairie Warblers are hidden in trees and shrubs and made from plant material and leaves and lined with soft feathers and fur. They lay up to five eggs, which take about two weeks to hatch and around ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Male Prairie Warblers sing two songs, one that is to attract females and one that is to scare off other males.

34. Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warblers are rare species in Arizona that were last spotted around Maricopa in 2022.

Blackburnian Warbler males are black and orange birds with orange throats and face marking, black backs and wings, and white with black streaks on the belly. Females are yellower. They have distinctive dark triangles on each side of their face, by their eyes.

  • Setophaga fusca
  • Length: 4.3-4.7 in (11-12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8.9-12.6 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)

Blackburnian Warblers, like many warblers in North America, can be seen during migration in eastern US states. They breed in Canada and northeastern US states, and some may breed as far south as Virginia or North Carolina. They spend winters in South America.

You can find Blackburnian Warblers in woods and forests hunting for caterpillars, but they are difficult to spot as they are often up at the top of trees hidden from view by leaves.

Blackburnian Warblers’ song:

Credit: Hal Mitchell, XC317904. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/317904.

Nests of Blackburnian Warblers are high up in conifer trees and made from twigs, bark with plant material, and secured to the branch with spider silk. The nest is lined with softer moss, grass, hair, and needles. They lay around four eggs, which take just under two weeks to hatch.

Fun Fact: Blackburian Warbler males are acrobatic in their territory defense and will chase rivals by flying in loops and decent at great speed in a whirling motion and raise and spread their tails.

35. Canada Warbler

canada warbler

Canada Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona and were last spotted around Tubac in 2021.

Canada Warblers are similar in appearance to the Magnolia Warbler and have a similar range. However, they are grayish-black on the back, and the black ‘necklace’ in the males, does not extend over the belly, only over the chest. They have yellow chests, bellies, and throats.

Females and immatures are similar but paler on the back and with a less prominent ‘necklace.’

  • Cardellina canadensis
  • Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-13 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.7-8.7 in (17-22 cm)

Canada Warblers breed in Canada and northeastern US states, but they can also be seen during migration across the eastern half of the US. They winter in western South America.

You can find Canada Warblers in rhododendron-filled conifer forests or aspen and poplar forests, foraging for insects and spiders. They are difficult to find as their numbers have been declining.

Canada Warbler song:

Credit: Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC512275. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/512275.

Nests of Canada Warblers are built near the ground in shrubs or ferns and woven into a cup from grass, bark, leaves, and other plant material. They lay up to six eggs, which take about twelve days to hatch and a further eight days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Canada Warblers are flying machines that travel over 3000 miles each way from their winter to summer grounds.

36. Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler
Credit: Dennis Cooke

Golden-winged Warblers are rare or accidental species in Arizona, but they have been spotted around Maricopa in 2022.

Golden-winged Warblers are small, striking, and attractive birds. Males have a yellow crown, black bill and throat, a black mask that extends from the bill to behind the eyes, and a white head. Their bodies are whitish-gray overall, with no patterns. They have yellow wing patches.

Female Gold-winged-warblers are similarly patterned, except that they have a duller coloring. Instead of white heads, like the males, theirs are grayish. Even their eye masks are gray instead of black. Juvenile males, have white heads like the adult males, but they share a dull color with the females. 

  • Vermivora chrysoptera
  • Length: 4.75 – 5 inches (12 – 13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.75 – 8.25 inches (20 – 21 cm)

Golden-winged Warblers breed in the Midwest and east to the Atlantic Coast. They can be seen migrating across eastern US states to Mexico, Central, and South America.

You can find Golden-winged Warblers in “early successional habitats”, like abandoned fields and pastures. Scrubby, shrubby areas of evergreen forests are also breeding grounds for them. 

Golden-winged Warblers tend to forage in hanging dead leaves that are common in regenerating forest communities. They feed on insects, spiders, and caterpillars they find under dead leaves and may sometimes hang upside down from branches to feast on larvae or pupae.

Golden-winged Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Driver, XC658548. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/658548.

Nests of Gold-winged Warblers are often concealed low in a bush or in a concealed cup nest on the ground. Sometimes, they may also be hidden near the base of a tree. Females make the nests using bark and grass and then line them with animal fur. Females lay four to seven eggs, and they incubate them for about ten days. 

Fun Fact: Golden-winged Warbler parents use decoy feeding grounds to protect their young by confusing humans. 

37. Worm-eating Warbler

Worm eating Warbler

Credit: Andrew Weitzel

Although considered accidental species in Arizona, Worm-eating Warblers were spotted around Maricopa and Cochise in 2022.

Worm-eating Warblers are pretty dull in comparison to most warblers. They are greenish-gray in color but with buffy-yellow heads with distinctive black stripes through the eye and crown.

  • Helmitheros vermivorum
  • Length: 4.4-5.2 in (11.2-13.1 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (12-14 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)

Worm-eating Warblers have a smaller territory than many warblers and breed in eastern US states. They can also be seen during migration in the southeast and coastal areas.

You can find Worm-eating warblers in forests, often near the ground, feeding on caterpillars rather than worms.

Worm-eating warblers’ song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC600083. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/600083.

Nests of Worm-eating Warblers are made from dried leaves and moss and placed on the ground near shrubs. They lay around five eggs, which take around fifteen days to hatch and another ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Worm-eating Warblers return to the exact same location in summer and winter every year.

38. Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler
Male
Blackpoll Warbler non breeding
Non Breeding

Blackpoll Warblers are accidental species in Arizona, and there have only been a couple of sightings here. The last was around Hassayampa River Preserve and Holbrook.

Blackpoll Warblers males are streaked black-and-white with a black cap and white cheeks. Females are also black-and-white but without a black cap and white cheeks.

They look very different in late summer and molt into yellow with darker streaking on the back.

  • Setophaga striata
  • Length: 5.5 in (14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (12-13 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.3-9.1 in (21-23 cm)

Blackpoll Warblers breed in Canada and can be seen during spring migration in the eastern United States. In fall, they migrate to their winter grounds in South America and the Caribbean.

You can find Blackpoll Warblers in forests feeding mostly on spiders and insects, but they will also eat fruit such as honeysuckle and pokeberry in the fall.

Blackpoll Warbler song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC598813. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/598813.

Nests of Blackpoll Warblers are usually near the trunks of fir trees and made from twigs and lichen by the female. They lay up to five eggs which take around twelve days to hatch and ten days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Blackpoll Warblers fly non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean in fall from their breeding grounds to South America. However, in spring, they stop in the Caribbean and fly over the land.

39. Tropical Parula

Tropical parula (Setophaga pitiayumi)

Tropical Parulas are accidental species in Arizona, and they were last spotted around Maricopa.

Tropical Parulas are small, attractive birds that closely resemble the Northern Parula, except they don’t have the white eyerings and the black band across the chest. 

Males have blue-gray heads and backs, an olive-green back patch, and two white wingbars. They have yellow throats and bellies, a yellow-orange patch on the breast, and white rumps. Females have the same coloring, although they’re lighter-colored. They don’t have the yellow-orange marking on the breast, though. 

  • Setophaga pitiayumi
  • Length: 4 – 4.5 inches (10 – 11 cm)
  • Weight: 0.1 oz (3 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.5 – 7 inches (17 – 18 cm)

Tropical Parula live all year in Mexico, Central, and South America, and breeding birds migrate in southern US states.

You can find Tropical Parulas in areas with an abundant growth of low, live oaks with a lot of Spanish moss. Wet, native woodlands are also a preferred habitat for Tropical Parulas. 

The diet of Tropical Parulas is insects and spiders and the occasional berries. They may forage for food among mid-level foliage in the trees or near the streams, but there is not much information to go on. 

Topical Parula’s song:

Credit: Jerome Fischer, XC278942. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/278942.

Nests are placed above ground in hanging Spanish moss. Not much is needed to build the nest apart from the Spanish moss and the bark, roots, and grass to hold it together. Females lay three to four eggs which she incubates for about twelve days. 

40. Cape May Warbler

Male Cape May warbler

Cape May Warblers are considered rare or accidental species in Arizona and were last spotted around Maricopa in 2020.

Male Cape May Warblers have distinctive heads with chestnut cheeks, and dark caps and are framed in a ring of yellow around the neck. They are mottled yellow-olive above and yellow with dark streaks below.

The tiger stripes on the Cape May Warblers chest and unusual dark crown set this warbler apart from other warblers. Female and immature Cape May Warblers are less bright and lack the head coloring of the males.

  • Setophaga tigrina
  • Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (10.2-15.2 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)

Cape May Warblers migrate to breeding grounds in Canada, passing over eastern US states. They spend the winter in the Caribbean and a narrow band of the coast on the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America.

You can find Cape May Warblers in spruce forests in their breeding grounds. However, during migration, they can be spotted in any habitat, especially near the edges of woods and scrub, where they can find the most insects.

They feed mainly on spruce budworm in summer, but in winter, they will eat fruit and nectar, and they will use hummingbird feeders.

Cape May Warbler song:

Credit: Andrew Spencer, XC103509. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/103509.

Nests of Cape May Warblers are built high up in spruce trees and near the truck. The nest is made from twigs, pine needles, and bark formed into a cup lined with animal hair, feathers, and other soft plant material. They lay up to nine eggs.

Attract Cape May Warblers to your backyard with native shrubs and trees that attract insects, and they may come for fruit and hummingbird feeders.

Fun Fact: Cape May Warblers have specially shaped tongues used for lapping up nectar; it is curled to form a tube shape.

41. Kentucky Warbler

Kentucky Warbler

Credit: Andrew Weitzel

Kentucky Warblers are considered accidental species in Arizona, but they were last seen around Rincon Mountain and San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in 2021.

Kentucky Warblers are bright yellow below and olive-green above with black crowns and black inverted triangles below their eyes. Females have grayer caps rather than black.

  • Geothlypis formosa
  • Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.5-0.5 oz (13-14 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)

Kentucky Warblers breed in eastern US states and can be seen during migration in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. They spend the winter in Mexico and Central America.

You can find Kentucky Warblers feeding on or near the ground in dense vegetation in forests. They eat insects and their larvae and spiders.

Kentucky Warblers song:

Credit: Thomas G. Graves, XC563607. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/563607.

Nests of Kentucky Warblers are hidden in shrubs and made from leaves and grass and lined with softer material. They sometimes hide the nest under a dome of woven stalks. They lay up to six eggs which take about twelve days to hatch and nine days for the young to leave the nest.

Fun Fact: Groups of male and female Kentucky Warblers chase each other around during courtship attracting more birds to the dance.

42. Bay-breasted Warbler

bay-breasted warbler

Bay-breasted Warblers are extremely rare in Arizona and have only been spotted a couple of times. The last was around Lake Pleasant in 2020.

Bay-breasted Warbler males are gray and black-streaked on the back and have reddish-brown crowns and breasts. They are white underneath and have black faces with a white patch behind their faces.

However, they are different colors during the breeding season than after the fall molt, and they look similar to Blackpoll Warblers in the fall.

Female Bay-breasted Warblers are similar but with less reddish-brown coloring and no black on the face when in breeding plumage. Non-breeding females and juveniles have yellowish-green heads, necks, and upper backs.

  • Setophaga castanea
  • Length: 5.5 in (14 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3-0.6 oz (10-17 g)
  • Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)

Bay-breasted Warblers breed in Canada and can be seen over eastern US states during the migration. They spend the winter in South America.

You can find Bay-breasted Warblers mostly in spruce and fir forests in the breeding season, eating spruce budworm, but they can be seen in any forest type during migration. In winter, they also eat berries.

Bay-breasted Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Driver, XC184374. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/184374.

Nests of Bay-breasted Warblers are built mainly by females on lower branches of spruce or fir trees. They use twigs and bark with dried grass, woven in and held together with spider silk. They lay up to seven eggs.

Fun Fact: Bay-breasted Warblers can consume over 10,000 budworms per hectare in around 40 days, and there are more nests in budworm outbreak areas.

43. Blue-winged Warbler

Blue Winged Warbler

Blue-winged Warblers are extremely rare in Arizona and are considered accidental species. They were last spotted around Joseph City in 2020.

Blue-winged Warblers are named for the bluish-gray color of their wings. Adults are yellow-green on top, with a black eye line extending from their long bill across the eye, making them look angry. 

Their breast and belly are mostly bright yellow, with females having a slightly paler shade but, more often, indistinguishable from the males. Adults have two white wing bars while juveniles have them too, but they’re so thin, they’re almost invisible.  

  • Vermivora cyanoptera
  • Length: 4.75 inches (12 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3 oz (9 g)
  • Wingspan: 6.75 – 7.5 inches (17 – 19 cm)

Blue-winged Warblers breed in the midwest and central US states and can be seen during migration in southern states on their way to wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

You can find Blue-winged warblers in abandoned, brushy fields and pastures, forest edges, and thickets. They usually settle in higher elevation areas with a lot of grass and canopy cover. 

Blue-winged Warblers favor insects and spiders they find in various plants and trees. They will even hang upside down from tree branches to check under leaves for insect larvae to feed their young. 

Blue-winged Warblers’ song:

Credit: Christopher McPherson, XC598819. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/598819.

Nests of Blue-winged Warblers are often found on the ground, in thick bushes, or in the undergrowth. Nests are cup-shaped and made of dead leaves. The female lays four to seven eggs and takes about 12 days to incubate. 

Fun Fact: Blue-winged Warblers often hybridize with Golden-winged Warblers to produce Brewster’s and Lawrence’s Warblers. 

44. Mourning Warbler

Mourning warbler

Mourning Warblers are accidental species in Arizona. They are extremely rare and have only been spotted a few times. The last was around Coconino National Forest in 2017.

The Mourning Warbler is very similar in appearance to MacGillivray’s Warbler, making it hard to distinguish them. Their main difference is their eyering – Mourning Warblers have no visible eyering, while MacGillivray’s Warbler has white, crescent-shaped eyerings.

Male Mourning Warblers have dark gray heads, necks, and distinguishing black chests. Females have a light gray head and no black chest patch. They both have olive backs, wings, and yellow bellies. 

  • Geothlypis philadelphia
  • Length: 5.25 inches (13 cm)
  • Weight: 0.5 oz (14 g)
  • Wingspan: 8.25 inches (21 cm)

Mourning Warblers breed in northeastern US states, around the Great Lakes, and southern Canada before migrating over eastern US states to Central America and northwestern South America.

You can find Mourning Warblers in dense thickets where the forests were disturbed by fires, storms, or logging activities. They are also seen amid blackberry shrubs or in places with a thick understory or covered canopies.

Mourning warblers forage on the ground and on branches for insect larvae, caterpillars, beetles, and spiders. They may also eat fruit from the Cecropia tree.

Mourning Warblers’ song:

Credit: Paul Driver, XC659255. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/659255.

Nests of Mourning Warblers are often in a concealed ground location within dense shrubs and thickets. The nests are made of leaves, weeds, and grasses lined with animal hair. Females lay three to five eggs which they incubate for about twelve days.  

Fun Fact: The Mourning Warbler is so named because their gray hood and black chest make them seem like they’re in mourning. 

How Frequently Warblers Are Spotted In Arizona In Summer And Winter

Checklists are a great resource to find out which birds are commonly spotted in your state. These lists show which warblers are most frequently recorded on checklists on ebird in summer and winter in Arizona.

Warblers in Arizona in summer:

Lucy’s Warbler 17.3%
Yellow Warbler 14.8%
Common Yellowthroat 9.8%
Yellow-breasted Chat 9.8%
Wilson’s Warbler 8.4%
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7.8%
Black-throated Gray Warbler 6.0%
Grace’s Warbler 5.1%
Red-faced Warbler 4.2%
Townsend’s Warbler 3.1%
Virginia’s Warbler 2.8%
Orange-crowned Warbler 1.9%
MacGillivray’s Warbler 1.4%
Hermit Warbler 0.8%
Rufous-capped Warbler 0.2%
Northern Waterthrush 0.2%
Nashville Warbler 0.1%
Hooded Warbler 0.1%
American Redstart 0.1%
Black-and-white Warbler 0.1%
Northern Parula 0.1%
Ovenbird <0.1%
Tropical Parula <0.1%
Chestnut-sided Warbler <0.1%
Blackpoll Warbler <0.1%
Prothonotary Warbler <0.1%
Golden-winged Warbler <0.1%
Kentucky Warbler <0.1%
Tennessee Warbler <0.1%
Palm Warbler <0.1%
Magnolia Warbler <0.1%
Yellow-throated Warbler <0.1%
Prairie Warbler <0.1%
Worm-eating Warbler <0.1%
Canada Warbler <0.1%
Louisiana Waterthrush <0.1%
Bay-breasted Warbler <0.1%
Blue-winged Warbler <0.1%
Blackburnian Warbler <0.1%
Mourning Warbler <0.1%
Black-throated Green Warbler <0.1%
Black-throated Blue Warbler <0.1%
Cape May Warbler <0.1%

Warblers in Arizona in winter:

Yellow-rumped Warbler 33.9%
Orange-crowned Warbler 9.5%
Common Yellowthroat 3.1%
Black-throated Gray Warbler 2.1%
Townsend’s Warbler 0.7%
Black-and-white Warbler 0.5%
Wilson’s Warbler 0.4%
Yellow Warbler 0.4%
Northern Parula 0.3%
Rufous-capped Warbler 0.2%
Louisiana Waterthrush 0.2%
Chestnut-sided Warbler 0.2%
American Redstart 0.1%
Hermit Warbler 0.1%
Palm Warbler 0.1%
Yellow-throated Warbler 0.1%
Pine Warbler 0.1%
Ovenbird 0.1%
Black-throated Green Warbler <0.1%
Magnolia Warbler <0.1%
Northern Waterthrush <0.1%
Nashville Warbler <0.1%
Black-throated Blue Warbler <0.1%
Golden-winged Warbler <0.1%
Tennessee Warbler <0.1%
Prairie Warbler <0.1%
Yellow-breasted Chat <0.1%
MacGillivray’s Warbler <0.1%
Hooded Warbler <0.1%
Worm-eating Warbler <0.1%
Lucy’s Warbler <0.1%
Blackburnian Warbler <0.1%
Blackpoll Warbler <0.1%
Grace’s Warbler <0.1%
Kentucky Warbler <0.1%
Red-faced Warbler <0.1%
Cape May Warbler <0.1%
Virginia’s Warbler <0.1%
Bay-breasted Warbler <0.1%

How To Attract Warblers To Your Backyard

Warblers are not as common as other songbirds to backyard feeders, but there are ways you can attract these melodious songbirds to your yard:

  1. Provide trees if your yard is big enough
  2. Leave brush piles and don’t be too tidy to ensure an insect friend habitat
  3. Don’t use pesticides or herbicides to ensure insects are available and birds do not consume any
  4. Provide a clean water source
  5. Offer mealworms, preferably live ones but dried if not
  6. Provide bird feeders with sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet