Class Aves
Order Songbirds
Family Warblers
Genus Dendroica

Credit: Laura Gooch

North American field guide

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dendroica coronata

Also known as:Audubon's Warbler, Myrtle Warbler

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

14 cm (5-6") Abundant. Coniferous and mixed woodlands.

Bright yellow rump, crown patch and side patch.

Two forms exist:

Myrtle Warbler: in the north and east has a white throat and males have eyebrow stripe and contrasting black cheek patch.

Audubon's Warbler: in the west has a yellow throat and male has no contrasting cheek patch.

Female and Fall Male and Immatures: Females and fall males have yellow shoulder patches, immatures lack this. Both have bright yellow rumps.

Song: rising or falling trill (Mryrtle) or warble (Audubon's).

Details in the field

Photo gallery

5 photos

Credit: Rick Cameron

Credit: Kelly Colgan Azar

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Kelly Colgan Azar

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution map

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

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

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Female, Fall Male, or Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 9

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?: Flicking · Fanning · Pointing downward · Pointing upward or cocked over its back · None · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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

result:40-yellow-rumped-warbler-female:1:1 Source: 40 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Female), row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 2

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?: Flicking · Fanning · Pointing downward · Pointing upward or cocked over its back · None · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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

result:40-yellow-rumped-warbler-female:2:1 Source: 40 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Female), row 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 9

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · 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
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · 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

result:38-yellow-rumped-warbler-male:1:1 Source: 38 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Male), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 2

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · 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
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · 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

result:38-yellow-rumped-warbler-male:2:1 Source: 38 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Male), row 2