Mourning Warbler
© Joanne Kamo
Geothlypis Philadelphia
Family: (Parulidae) Wood-Warblers
Preferred Habitat: Woodlands
Seasonal Occurrence: Most common the first half of May and second half of September.
Notes: Mourning Warblers are present in small numbers during migration. Typically they are found in the lower understory of wet woodlands and dense thickets. Males and females have gray hoods, olive backs, and yellow breasts. Only males have the black crepe-like patch at base of throat. Breeding in the northern U.S. and Canada, Mourning Warblers build their nests on or near the ground. Both sexes are known to feign a broken wing in order to lure predators away from the nest.
- Susan Billetdeaux
Comments by Don Verser: Many fall Mourning Warblers have yellowish throats and some have eye rings. Separation from MacGillivray's can be extremely difficult. Mourning Warblers might be confused with Connecticut Warbler or even Nashville Warblers.
