Class Aves
Order Songbirds
Family Warblers
Genus Parula

Credit: Larry Bond

North American field guide

Northern Parula

Parula americana

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

11 cm (4-5") Fairly common. Eastern North America. Mature coniferous or mixed woods.

Bluish-gray upperparts. Greenish patch on back. Yellow throat. White belly. Two distinct white wing bars.

Male: breast has reddish and black bands across it.

Female: yellow throat and breast.

Song: rising trill, dropping abruptly at the end "zeeeeeeeeee-up".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Dan Pancamo

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Kelly Colgan Azar

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Northern Parula

Credit: Larry Bond

Northern Parula

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 6 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Northern Parula (Female)

3 rules

Rule 1 18 criteria confidence 6

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:134-northern-parula-female:1:1 Source: 134 Northern Parula (Female), row 1

Rule 2 18 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:134-northern-parula-female:2:1 Source: 134 Northern Parula (Female), row 2

Rule 3 18 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:134-northern-parula-female:3:1 Source: 134 Northern Parula (Female), row 3

Northern Parula (Male)

3 rules

Rule 1 18 criteria confidence 6

What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:132-northern-parula-male:1:1 Source: 132 Northern Parula (Male), row 1

Rule 2 18 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:132-northern-parula-male:2:1 Source: 132 Northern Parula (Male), row 2

Rule 3 18 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · None · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:132-northern-parula-male:3:1 Source: 132 Northern Parula (Male), row 3