Kentucky Warbler (Oporonis formosus)

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A Field Guide to Warblers of North America (The Peterson Field Guide Series). by Kimball L. Garrett, Jon L. Dunn, Cindy House (Illustrator)

Warblers of Eastern North America

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

Recording by John R. Sauer, U.S. Geological Survey

Kentucky Warbler (Oporonis formosus)

Identification: 4.5 inches from tip of bill to tip of tail.

Breeding Male: The Kentucky Warbler has yellow underparts from the throat to the belly, but tinged with gray on the sides. The back is olive-brown as is the crown of the head, although the crown is slightly darker. A prominent yellow eye ring and band above the combine to form a distinctive "glasses" shaped mark. Under the eye is a triangular black patch. Wing bars are absent.

Female: The female is similar to the male, but the black patch beneath the eye is not as well formed.

Fall Male and Female: The fall male and female are similar to the breeding sexes.

Immature: The immature is similar to the female.

Similar Species: The Kentucky Warbler might be mistaken for a Common Yellowthroat. The yellow glasses effect of the Kentucky Warbler is absent in the Common Yellowthroat and is replaced with a triangular black mask encompasing all of eye and edged with white above.

Breeding Range (see map below): The Kentucky Warbler's breeding range stretches over most of the southern and central eastern United States.

Overwintering Range: American tropics.

Habitat: The Kentucky Warbler is usually found in wet woods with thick undergrowth or the undergrowth of ravines.

Food: Insects with a little fruit.

Behavior: The Kentucky Warbler forages in the thick undergrowth of ravines and woods with lots of undergrowth and is seldom seen. The song is loud and sharp turdle, turdle, turdle, turdle.

Reproduction: The nest is constructed of dead leaves and lined with grass, hair, and small roots. The nest is placed on, or near, the ground. The clutch consists of 4 to 5 white eggs spotted with brown. Incubation takes about 12 days and the young are ready to leave the nest about 10 days after hatching.