A common bird throughout North America, Yellow-rumped Warblers are classic and iconic birds. During the breeding season, look for Yellow-rumped Warblers in coniferous and mixed forests. They can be found at a wide range of elevations–from sea level up to high alpine habitats.

Yellow-rumped Warblers have an overall gray appearance. Their undersides are white with sparse black streaking. They have large yellow patches on their sides, rumps, and heads. There are two distinct varieties of Yellow-rumped Warblers: “Audubon’s,” and “Myrtle.” Common in western North America, Audubon’s Warbler has a yellow throat. Myrtle Warblers, like the one pictured, have a white throat and are common in the east.

We have caught more Yellow-rumped Warblers than any other species at Creamer’s Field Migration Station: about 25,000 between 1992 and 2025! Some of “our” banded Yellow-rumped Warblers have been encountered again as far away as Louisiana and Texas.