Description

The Magnolia Warbler can be identified by its distinctive tail consisting of a black tip with a broad white band. The Magnolia Warbler has yellow underparts, belly and breast with black streaking on the chest in the spring and white wing patches. The females are duller and have a grey cap.

The breeding range ofthe Magnolia Warbler typically includes edges of moist aspen-dominated mixed forests of spruce, firs, hemlocks, or pines that are preferably situated near water.

The vocalizations of the Magnolia Warbler can be split into two categories, the song and the call note. The song consists of a short and musical vocalization as represented by "wee-o, wee-o, wee-chee" or "weeta weeta wit-chew." The call note is unique to the wood-warblers and is represented by "tlep", "nieff", "schlep" or "tzek" typically during migration.

Immature Prairie Warbler may be mistaken for Magnolias in the fall.

The Magnolia Warbler prefers to stay hidden, so it tends to forage in areas of dense foliage such as amongst undergrowth, thickets and younger trees, but can also be seen mid-story in conifers. The main foraging method consists of gleaning insects from underneath bark and leaves, but is also known to hover-glean and sally.
This species is more easily detectable in the field by its vocalization than by sight, although beware that the song of the Magnolia Warbler is very similar to that of the Yellow Warbler and the Chestnut-sided Warbler.

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