Birds of Arlington - Magnolia Warbler

Birds of Arlington

Magnolia Warbler

(Setophaga magnolia)

Adult Male

Present: Summer & Migration

Visual Identification

Where and When to see them

Visual Identification

Spring Plumage

The Magnolia Warbler is a small bird with a bright yellow belly. They have black prominent streaking that starts from the breast and moves down the belly and flanks, being thicker at the breast. They have a bright yellow throat, with a black mask above that. They have a broken eye-ring (eye arc) with a tapering top end that moves across the supercilium (eyebrow stripe). Their cap/crown area is gray as well as their tail and flight feathers. Their mantle feathers are black with a yellow rump just below that. The wing coverts are black with a large, white wing-bar. They have white undertail coverts, and their tail is white/gray with a thick black bar at the end. When fanned , the tail may be mistaken for that of an American redstart. Color can be washed or dull occasionally.

Fall Plumage

Fall birds are drab with little to no streaking. Yellow stays the same while the gray may be slightly browned. Black turns to a grayer color and mantle may show signs of yellow. White wing-bar is majorly thinned

Voice

Calls are small chirps and tweets. The song is currently unknown to us.

Habitat

Both the male and the female male Magnolia Warbler spend their time in forest edge habitats. This includes streamside forests, wet forest edge, and brushy forest edge. The habitats they are usually seen in have an abundance of leaves around 14-30 feet off the ground.

Behavior

The Magnolia Warbler forages in the middle to lower layer of the riparian woods. They forage near streams and have a unique way of moving. They cling to small branches or vines and twist their bodies to jump onto the next one. The movement of their feathers is easily seen because of their bold streaking and body patterns. Where they jump is seemingly random, but looks half purposeful.

They travel in small loose groups.

Comparisons

Nashville Warbler

The Nashville warbler may be mistaken for a fall adult, but note that they have no streaking and prefer to stay to low wet shrubbery and are not usually found in trees. They also have a small rufous spot on the crest. Nashville Warblers are way more active than most warblers, and dash from bush to bush quickly, while Magnolia Warblers are a bit slower. Nashville warblers have more white and have olive/yellow wings.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler may be mistaken for a breeding adult, but note that they have a white belly and only two yellow patches on the breast, instead of a yellow belly. They have an extensive gray body, which may be browned greatly.

Canada Warbler

The Canada Warbler may be mistaken for a breeding adult because of their necklace, but note that they have a completely slate colored back and have a “spectacle” (or “goggles”).

Female American Redstart

The female American Redstart may be mistaken for a breeding and fall adult, but note that they have a completely gray back and have two orange patches on the breast.

Black-Throated Green Warbler

The Black-Throated Green Warbler may be mistaken for a breeding adult because of the black throat and streaking, but note that, unlike the Magnolia Warbler, they have a white belly and yellow head. Black-Throated Green Warblers also like to spend much of their time in the treetops.

Female Blackpoll Warbler

The female Blackpoll Warbler may be mistaken for a fall adult, but note that they have a white belly (May be washed a tad bit yellow), an eye-stripe, and thinner streaking. They are also greener.

Where and When to see them

They are commonly seen in Glencarlyn Park. They are uncommon at longbranch park

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