

The Birds · Plate CLXIV
Blue-winged Warbler
Vermivora cyanoptera
Parulidae · Taxon 73553
| Length | 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in), both sexes |
| Wingspan | 15 cm (5.9 in), both sexes |
| Weight | 9 g (0.3 oz), both sexes |
Field marks
- Bright yellow head and underparts with an olive-green back
- Thin black eyeline passing through the dark eye; typically grayer and less distinct in females
- Sharp, pointed black bill that appears relatively substantial for a small warbler
- Blue-gray wings crossed by two prominent white wing bars
- Short tail with white outer-feather markings and white undertail coverts
- Small, well-proportioned body with slender legs
HabitatBreeds in shrublands, brushy fields, thickets, and forest edges. During migration it uses open woodland, scrub, gardens, and parks; nonbreeding habitat includes evergreen or tropical deciduous forest edges, scrub, and hedgerows.
BehaviorMoves with quick flights and short hops through low vegetation, gleaning insects from leaves and branch tips and often hanging upside down; males sing from exposed perches.
Palette