A small, bright yellow warbler with black cap. Adult male is entirely bright yellow below with a slight orange cast to the upper breast and face, plain dusky-yellow upperparts, and neat black crown. Bill is mostly dark on upper mandible with a orange-yellow lower mandible. Female is similar but crown is more diffuse and varies from greenish to near black. In flight, lacks white on tail feathers.

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

Voice:

Loud series of slappy, chattering notes that accelerate and get louder before dropping off in volume and pitch at the very end. Call is a sharp tick note.

Habitat:

Forests with dense, moist understory; riparian areas with willows. During migration, found in a wide variety of wooded habitats.

Behavior:

Occupies low sections of canopy, rarely high in trees. Somewhat skulking. Nest is a cup of vegetation placed on ground, concealed by dense shrub. During migration and winter, often joins mixed flocks with other warblers.

Feeding:

Gleans low foliage or flycatches; eats a variety of insects and occasional fruit.