5.5 inches long. The Blackpoll Warbler is a well named warbler with a solid black cap. The cheeks are white and black malar stripes surround a white throat. There is a white belly, wing bars, undertail coverts, and tail spots. The flanks have black streaks. The back is gray with black streaks. The legs are yellowish or pinkish/yellowish in spring with the soles of the feet being yellow. The legs are darker in the fall but still yellowish on the back side. The yellow soles are retained. The female looks very different than the male. She is olive/gray in color with a streaked crown and a muted malar stripe. Birds in fall are significantly different and tough to separate from fall Bay-breasted warblers and Pine Warblers. Please refer to birding guides for details of these differences.
The Blackpoll Warbler is uncommon in migration. It may be seen from late April throughout May during the spring. In fall it is seen from early September to Early October. It is much more common in the spring than in the fall.
The Blackpoll Warbler is a slow moving warble that tends to feed in the middle or upper levels of the canopy. It may be found in any wooded or edge habitat. It often dips its tail gently. The song is rapid series of very high notes on one pitch distinctly louder in the middle than at the beginning or end.
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