Alternate Adult male is mostly olive-green above and bright yellow below, with thick black streaks on flanks. Distinctive head pattern, is comprised of a broad yellow supercilium, a dark eye line, a wide yellow arc under the eye, and a black swash that sweeps down from in front of the eye curling below the eye arc to form a black border on the lower auriculars. There is also a black spot on the side of the neck. The crown, nape, posterior auriculars, and back are dull olive, with reddish streaks on back. The wings are yellow-green with yellowish wing bars.The throat, breast, belly and vent are bright yellow, undertail coverts are paler yellow. Flanks have two rows of heavy, long, black streaks and a third row of shorter, narrower, black streaks. Female is similar, but lacks black in the head pattern, eye line and auriculars are olive green, red streaks on back are much reduced, and flank streaking is less bold. Immatures have grayish head, pale arcs around eye, faint streaks on yellow underparts, greenish back, relatively plain wings, and extremely pale yellow undertail coverts. In flight, note white tail corners.

Length: 12 (cm) Wingspan: 18 (cm)

Voice:

High, rising, buzzy phrases; call is a single chip note.

Habitat:

Brushy areas, edges, second-growth forests, overgrown sand dunes.

Behavior:

Habitually wags tail, like Palm Warbler. Nest is an open cup placed in low tree or shrub. Often parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds. During migration and winter, sometimes joins flocks of other warblers.

Feeding:

Gleans foliage for a variety of insects and invertebrates.