This guide will help you identify all the species of warbler that are regularly occurring in North Carolina 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 North Carolina and print a free ID chart.
This guide will help you identify the types of warblers spotted in North Carolina 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.
For all of the warblers in this guide, you can hear their songs and get a guide to different song types of warblers, but you can check out this guide to 13 easy to recognize warbler songs to help.
Warblers In North Carolina By Season
Warblers in North Carolina all year: Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler
Warblers in North Carolina in summer: Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler
Warblers in North Carolina in winter: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler
Warblers in North Carolina during migration: American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Connecticut Warbler
37 Species of Warbler In North Carolina:
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warblers are winter birds in North Carolina, and they are mainly spotted from mid-September until May. They are recorded in 30% of winter 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:
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. Pine Warbler
Pine Warblers can be spotted all year in North Carolina. They appear in 14% of summer checklists and 18% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.
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:
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.
3. Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroats can be spotted all year in North Carolina, but they are more often seen during the breeding season. They appear in 18% of summer 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:
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.
4. Northern Parula
Northern Parulas spend the breeding season in North Carolina and occur in 13% of summer checklists. They are mainly spotted from mid-March to October, but a few hang around all year.
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:
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!
5. Black-and-white Warbler
Black-and-white Warblers can be spotted all year in North Carolina, but their numbers increase during migration.
Black-and-white Warblers are quite distinctive and so more easy 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:
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.
6. American Redstart
American Redstarts are more often spotted in North Carolina during migration, especially the fall migration in September. However, a few also spend the breeding season here. They are recorded in 5% of summer checklists and up to 28% of checklists during the fall migration.
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.
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.
7. Ovenbird
Ovenbirds are usually spotted in North Carolina during summer, but their numbers increase during migration from April to May. They appear in 9% of summer checklists and up to 17% of checklists during spring migration.
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:
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.
8. Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warblers breed in North Carolina and are spotted here from March until November. They appear in 8% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
9. Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warblers are usually spotted in North Carolina during migration, but they also spend the breeding season in the west of the state. They appear in 6% of summer checklists and up to 17% of checklists during migration.
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:
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.
10. Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow-throated Warblers are usually spotted in North Carolina during the breeding season and appear in 5% of summer checklists. They are mainly seen from March to mid-October.
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:
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.
11. Palm Warbler
Palm Warblers can be spotted in North Carolina during winter, but their numbers increase during migration in October. They are recorded in 1% of winter checklists and up to 18% of checklists during the fall migration.
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:
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.
12. Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warblers are spotted in North Carolina during summer, mainly from mid-March to November, and appear in 4% of checklists at this time.
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:
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.
13. Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warblers spend the breeding season in North Carolina and are mainly spotted from April to October in the east of the state. However, they are also spotted migrating across the state. They appear in 4% of summer checklists and up to 13% of checklists during fall migration.
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 faces. 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:
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.
14. Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warblers spend the breeding season in North Carolina from March to October and occur in 5% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
15. Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warblers breed in North Carolina from April to October and occur in 4% of summer checklists.
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.
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.
16. Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warblers can be spotted in North Carolina during spring and fall migration in May and from September to October.
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:
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.
17. Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chats breed in North Carolina and are mainly spotted from mid-April to September. They occur in 5% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
18. Louisiana Waterthrush
Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
Louisiana Waterthrush can be found in North Carolina during the breeding season, mainly from March to September. They are recorded in 2% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
19. Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warblers are mainly spotted in North Carolina during spring migration from April to May and fall migration from September to October. They occur in up to 11% of checklists at these times.
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:
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.
20. Worm-eating Warbler
Credit: Andrew Weitzel
Worm-eating Warblers spend the breeding season in North Carolina, but they are also spotted migrating across the rest of the state. They appear in 2% of summer checklists and up to 5% of checklists during migration.
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:
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.
21. Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warblers spend summer in North Carolina and occur in 2% of checklists during this time. They are mainly spotted from mid-April to mid-October.
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:
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!
22. Tennessee Warbler
Credit: Jerry Oldenettel
Tennessee Warblers are spotted in North Carolina during fall migration from September to October. They are recorded in up to 13% of checklists during fall migration.
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:
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.
23. Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warblers are seen in North Carolina mainly from April to November. They occur in 1% of summer checklists and up to 5% of checklists during migration.
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:
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.
24. Canada Warbler
Canada Warblers are spotted in North Carolina from mid-April to October and appear in 2% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
25. Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warblers are near-threatened species in North Carolina that are spotted here during migration from April to May and September to December.
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:
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.
26. Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrushes migrate across North Carolina and are spotted mainly from April to May and September to October.
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:
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.
27. Orange-crowned Warbler
Orange-crowned Warblers are winter birds in North Carolina and are spotted here from September until May. They are recorded in 1% of checklists at this time.
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:
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.
28. Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warblers are spotted migrating across North Carolina from mid-April to mid-June and mid-August to November.
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:
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.
29. Swainson’s Warbler
Swainson’s Warblers spend summer in North Carolina and occur in 1% of checklists at this time. They are mainly spotted from April to September.
Swainson’s Warblers are medium-sized, chunky ground-dwelling birds. Males and females look the same. They both have brown heads, white eyebrows, black eye lines, brown backs and wings, and whitish throats and bellies. Juveniles may be olive rather than brown but share the same characteristics.
- Limnothlypis swainsonii
- Length: 5 – 5.5 inches (13 – 14 cm)
- Weight: 0.7 oz (20 g)
- Wingspan: 8.5 inches (22 cm)
Swainson’s Warblers breed in southeastern US states before migrating to the Caribbean and Mexico.
You can find Swainson’s Warblers around tall thickets and giant canebreaks near swamps and rivers. They spend their time walking on the ground hidden under the dense understory of moist forests.
Swainson’s Warblers walk rapidly among the openings in the dense understory of the forest. They probe under leaf litter to find insects like caterpillars, beetles, ants, crickets, grasshoppers, and flies. They may also probe the ground with their heavy bill or take flight from perch to perch to catch insects in the air.
Swainson’s Warblers’ song:
Nests of Swainson’s Warblers are located above ground but concealed in thick clumps of cane, vines, or rhododendron. Sometimes, they’re also located over water or up to 4 feet above the ground. Nests are made of leaves, sticks, and vines and lined with moss, grass, and ferns.
Females lay between two to five eggs in these nests. She will also incubate them by herself for about thirteen to fifteen days. The young may leave the nest after twelve days.
30. Kentucky Warbler
Credit: Andrew Weitzel
Kentucky Warblers are spotted in North Carolina from April to October and occur in 1% of summer checklists.
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:
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.
31. Blue-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warblers are usually spotted in North Carolina during spring and fall migration.
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:
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.
32. Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warblers are near-threatened species in North Carolina, but they are mainly spotted in the west of the state during migration, especially in May and September. Some also spend the breeding season in the state.
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. Although juvenile males have white heads like adult males, they share a dull color with 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:
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.
33. Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warblers are near-threatened species in North Carolina, but they are spotted mostly in the west of the state during summer.
Male Cerulean Warblers are small songbirds that have rich blue heads with a black band around their neck. Their backs and sides are blue with black streaks. Their throats, breasts, and bellies are white. On their wings are two white bars.
Females are bluish-green and have yellow eyebrows and a yellowish tinge underneath. They also have no streaks on their backs. Juveniles are more olive than blue with the same eyebrows as females. They also have prominent streaks on their sides but with the same white double wing bars.
- Setophaga cerulea
- Length: 4.5 – 5 inches (11 – 13 cm)
- Weight: 0.3 oz. (9 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5 inches (19 cm)
Cerulean Warblers breed in the Midwest and across to the east coast but can be seen during migration in southeastern states on their way to winter grounds in South America.
You can find Cerulean Warblers in mature forests with deciduous trees with large leaves. When migrating, they head for forested mountains.
Cerulean Warblers mostly forage in trees. They may catch insects in flight or search for insects, like caterpillars, among leaves and branches.
Cerulean Warblers’ song:
Nests of Cerulean Warblers are cup-shaped and naturally located in the higher, horizontal branches of trees. They are often made out of bark strips, spider silk, and grass made soft with moss and fur. The female lays three to five eggs that she has to incubate for about thirteen days.
Fun Fact: Females, when they exit their nests, tumble to the ground like a falling leaf but immediately release their wings and fly near the ground.
34. Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warblers are not very common in North Carolina, but they have been spotted here mainly during the fall migration from September to October.
Nashville Warblers are mostly yellow with a green back and gray head with a white eye-ring. 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:
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.
35. Wilson’s Warbler
Although not very common here, Wilson’s Warblers are spotted migrating across North Carolina. They are mainly spotted during the fall migration in September.
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:
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.
36. Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warblers are not often seen in North Carolina, but you might spot some during migration.
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:
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.
37. Connecticut Warbler
Although not common here, Connecticut Warblers have occasionally been spotted in northern North Carolina during migration.
Male Connecticut Warblers have gray heads and throats, white eye-rings, olive-green backs and wings, and yellow bellies. Females have lighter coloring, with olive-brown heads and backs, a whitish throat, and a yellow belly. Juveniles are generally yellowish-olive.
- Oporornis agilis
- Length: 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Weight: 0.5 oz (14 g)
- Wingspan: 8.75 in (22 cm)
Connecticut Warblers breed in southern Canada and the northern Great Lakes and can be seen migrating across the Midwest and down to Florida on their way to South America for winter.
You can find Connecticut Warblers in remote areas, such as bogs with deciduous woods with poplar, spruce, tamarack, or aspen. When migrating, they select low, wet woods and damp thickets.
Connecticut Warblers are skulkers. They spend their time foraging under dense or low leafy vegetation. They usually search for spiders, snails, and caterpillars, picking among dead leaves and hopping between branches.
Connecticut Warblers’ song:
Nests of Connecticut Warblers are made of grass and often hidden in thick clumps of moss. The female lays three to five eggs that take around twelve days to hatch.
Fun Fact: Connecticut Warblers are elusive birds and have different migratory routes, which makes it hard for scientists to learn more about them.
Warbler Song Guide
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’ song 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
- Ovenbirds sing a series of notes that rise and fall
- Hooded Warblers also have clear notes
- 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 Parulas have a rising trill that ends with a different note, almost like a period to stop
- Wilson’s Warblers’ song is a series of clear falling notes that speed up
How Frequently Warblers Are Spotted In North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
Warblers in North Carolina in summer:
Common Yellowthroat 18.4%
Pine Warbler 14.9%
Northern Parula 13.5%
Ovenbird 9.5%
Hooded Warbler 8.7%
Black-and-white Warbler 7.3%
American Redstart 6.3%
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6.3%
Prothonotary Warbler 5.7%
Yellow-breasted Chat 5.2%
Yellow-throated Warbler 5.2%
Black-throated Green Warbler 4.5%
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4.5%
Prairie Warbler 4.2%
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2.9%
Louisiana Waterthrush 2.8%
Yellow Warbler 2.5%
Canada Warbler 2.3%
Worm-eating Warbler 2.1%
Blackpoll Warbler 2.1%
Blackburnian Warbler 1.7%
Northern Waterthrush 1.2%
Swainson’s Warbler 1.1%
Cape May Warbler 1.1%
Kentucky Warbler 1.0%
Magnolia Warbler 0.9%
Palm Warbler 0.6%
Cerulean Warbler 0.4%
Golden-winged Warbler 0.4%
Bay-breasted Warbler 0.2%
Tennessee Warbler 0.2%
Blue-winged Warbler 0.1%
Wilson’s Warbler 0.1%
Mourning Warbler 0.1%
Nashville Warbler <0.1%
Connecticut Warbler <0.1%
Orange-crowned Warbler <0.1%
Warblers in North Carolina in winter:
Yellow-rumped Warbler 30.2%
Pine Warbler 18.4%
Palm Warbler 1.6%
Orange-crowned Warbler 1.3%
Common Yellowthroat 0.9%
Black-and-white Warbler 0.6%
Yellow-throated Warbler 0.2%
Prairie Warbler 0.1%
Yellow-breasted Chat <0.1%
Wilson’s Warbler <0.1%
Ovenbird <0.1%
Cape May Warbler <0.1%
Northern Parula <0.1%
Nashville Warbler <0.1%
Yellow Warbler <0.1%
American Redstart <0.1%
Black-throated Blue Warbler <0.1%
Tennessee Warbler <0.1%
Blackpoll Warbler <0.1%
Northern Waterthrush <0.1%
Black-throated Green Warbler <0.1%
Louisiana Waterthrush <0.1%
Chestnut-sided Warbler <0.1%
Magnolia 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:
- Provide trees if your yard is big enough
- Leave brush piles and don’t be too tidy to ensure an insect friend habitat
- Don’t use pesticides or herbicides to ensure insects are available and birds do not consume any
- Provide a clean water source
- Offer mealworms, preferably live ones but dried if not
- Provide bird feeders with sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet