The intense orange color on the male Blackburnian Warbler is unique among North American warblers. In all plumages, the dark auricular patch is somewhat triangular, and is surrounded by lighter areas on the throat, sides of the neck, and supercilium. Alternate Male: The upperparts are black with pale streaks down the sides of the back, a large white panel on the wing coverts, and white on the outer tail feathers. The crown, nape and auriculars are black, with fiery orange on the forehead, supercilium, sides of the neck, throat, and upper breast. There is also an orange crescent below the eye. The underparts are pale yellow, fading to white on the undertail coverts, with black streaks on the sides. Basic Male: Color on face is paler orange. Upperparts show an olive cast and two white wing bars. Alternate Female: Shows a pattern similar to male, but with dark gray instead of black, and yellow-orange on the face and throat instead of fiery orange. The white on the wing coverts is reduced, forming two distinct wing bars. The back is paler and more streaked. Immature Male: Nearly identical to Basic Female, but with darker black eye line (top of auricular patch) and darker streaking on the underparts. The throat is yellow, not as orange as Basic Female. Immature Female: Much paler overall. Throat is light yellow to whitish. Streaks on underparts are light and blurry. Similar to immature female Cerulean Warbler.

Length: 11 (cm) Wingspan: 20 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a very high-pitched series of notes, either fast and ascending, or slower and ending on a lower note. Call is a sharp tsip. Flight call is a high zzee.

Habitat:

Nests in mature stands of coniferous or mixed forest. Uses any wooded habitat in migration.

Behavior:

Usually forages and nests high in the canopy.

Feeding:

Gleans insects from foliage. Eats some fruit in winter.