Northern Yellow Warbler - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding
SNRB - Unranked Breeding
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Size
Total length: 5″
Wingspan: 8″
Voice
Similar Species
Habitat
Open woodlands with willow and dense, low scrub, shrubby meadows with willow.
Ecology
Migration
Late April to early September
Nesting
Diet
Distribution
Occurrence
Common migrant and breeder
Maps
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map
Taxonomy
Class
Aves (Birds)
Order
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Family
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Subfamily
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Genus
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Genus
In 2011 all of the wood warblers were reclassified resulting in new genus names for almost all of them. The genus Dendroica, with 29 members, was merged with the genus Setophaga, with just 3 members. All of the former Dendroica species were renamed to Setophaga.
Species
In 2025, following the late 2025 eBird/Clements taxonomic update, the species Setophaga petechia was split. All migratory subspecies, formerly in the American Yellow Warbler (aestiva group), were reassigned to the new species Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva).
Subordinate Taxa
Alaska American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva rubiginosa)
California American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva brewsteri)
Dugés’s Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva dugesi)
Newfoundland American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva amnicola)
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva aestiva) ![]()
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva banksi)
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva parkesi)
Rocky Mountain American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva morcomi)
Sonora American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva sonorana)
Synonyms
Dendroica petechia
Motacilla leucurus
Motacilla petechia
Sylvicola petechia










