4.75 inches long. The distinguishing feature of the Wilson’s Warbler is a black round cap. It has an olive back and wings. The underparts, face, forehead, and eyebrow are yellow. The dark eye is prominent on the yellow face. The tail is dark above and below with no white tail spots. The undertail coverts are yellow. Females have a reduced size to the black cap or no black cap at all. Immature birds may have no black cap with just olive on the head. Female and immature Yellow Warblers are similar to Wilson’s females and immatures but the Yellow Warbler has yellow edging in the wings and yellow tail spots.
The Wilson’s Warbler is a somewhat common spring and fall migrant from late April throughout most of May and again from late August through September to early October.
The Wilson’s Warbler is extremely active with frequent hover-gleaning and flitting from twig to twig. The long tail is often cocked and flipped similar to a Gnatcatcher. Song is a weak “che, che, che, che, cheh” that rises toward the end.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Phil Swanson.