Adult male has gray head, prominent white eye ring and an inconspicuous reddish crown patch, yellow throat and underparts, and plain greenish upperparts. First-spring males are similar, but show brownish rather than greenish alula and flight feathers (molt limits) and also have some grayish fringing on the upperparts. Adult female is similarly patterned, but is slightly paler gray on the head and lacks red crown patch. Females are also paler yellow below with more white on the belly. Two subspecies: Eastern birds are more uniformly green on the back, with males tending to show less white on the belly–often nearly absent. Eastern birds are also slightly shorter-tailed and do little if any pumping of the tail. Western birds are grayer on the upper back, particularly the upper mantle. They are slightly longer-tailed and pump their tails almost constantly as they move about. Immatures are similar to female, but considerably paler yellow below with more extensive white on belly. They are paler and head and throat and have a less conspicuous white eye ring. Virginia's Warbler has yellow only on undertail coverts and breast; Colima Warbler of West Texas is larger with yellow confined to undertail coverts.

Length: 12 (cm) Wingspan: 19 (cm)

Voice:

Song starts with three sweet whistled "su-weet, su-weet, su-weet phrases, followed by a fast trill. Call is a high-pitched metallic "eents."

Habitat:

Breeds in thickets, riparian zones, and woodland edges. During migration and winter, found in a wide variety of wooded habitats.

Behavior:

Active in all levels of canopy. Typically found alone or in pairs, except during migration and winter when it may flock with other warblers. Nest is a cup of woven soft materials, placed on ground or in base of dense shrub.

Feeding:

Forages by gleaning foliage for a variety of insects and invertebrates. Occasionally visits suet and sugar water feeders, especially in winter.