Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica), male
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Male

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

The Chestnut-sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica, is a captivating New World warbler, modest in size but striking in appearance. It is closely related to the Yellow Warbler and exhibits a range of plumage variations across seasons. Adult males in summer are particularly distinctive with their dark-streaked gray backs, white faces, and black eyestripes, crowned with a splash of yellow. Their underparts are white, set off by rich chestnut flanks, and they sport two white wing bars. Females and non-breeding individuals present a more subdued coloration, with less pronounced head patterns and minimal chestnut on the flanks.

Identification Tips

In summer, look for the male's bold face pattern and chestnut sides. Females and non-breeding birds can be identified by their bright yellow-green crowns, white eye-rings on a grey face, and pale, unstreaked underparts. The consistent presence of wing bars throughout the year aids in identification, as does the lack of streaking and yellowish back, which distinguishes them from the larger Blackpoll Warbler during the fall.

Habitat

The Chestnut-sided Warbler thrives in second growth habitats, a testament to its adaptability and the changing American landscape. It nests in low bushes within young deciduous woodlands or scrublands, often taking advantage of the regrowth following forest clearings.

Distribution

Breeding primarily in eastern North America and southern Canada, extending west to the Canadian Prairies, the Great Lakes region, and the eastern United States, this warbler is a migratory species. It winters in Central America, reaching as far south as northern Colombia, and has been recorded as a rare vagrant in western Europe.

Behaviour

These warblers are active foragers, flitting through shrubs and small trees in search of insects. They may occasionally sally forth to catch insects mid-flight, but they predominantly glean their prey from foliage. During the winter, they can be enticed into gardens with berry-bearing trees.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a cheerful whistle, often transcribed as "pleased, pleased, pleased to MEECHA," with the accented version primarily serving to attract females. Unaccented songs are associated with territory defense and are more localized, reflecting the long-distance dispersal of females. Their calls are characterized by harsh chips.

Breeding

The Chestnut-sided Warbler's cup-shaped nest is artfully woven from bark strips, weed stems, grasses, and plant down, typically situated no more than 2 meters above the ground in a shrub or vine tangle. They lay 3-5 creamy white or greenish eggs speckled with brown. This species is known to be parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird.

Similar Species

While similar to the Blackpoll Warbler in size, the Chestnut-sided Warbler can be distinguished by its lack of streaking and the presence of yellowish tones on its back during the fall.

Diet and Feeding

Insectivorous by nature, the Chestnut-sided Warbler's diet consists mainly of insects gleaned from foliage. In the winter months, they supplement their diet with berries, such as those from the Cymbopetalum mayanum tree.

Conservation status

The Chestnut-sided Warbler is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with population trends reflecting an initial increase due to the proliferation of second growth forests, followed by a slight decline.

Chestnut-sided Warbler Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Chestnut-sided Warblers on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More New World Warblers

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.