Swainson's Warbler is one of the most secretive and hard-to-see warblers in North America, preferring dense cane brakes and rhododendron thickets where it walks along the ground flipping leaves. Its loud, ringing song — often compared to Louisiana Waterthrush — gives it away but the bird rarely shows itself. It is a plain, brownish warbler with a bold pale supercilium.
Best time to see a Swainson's Warbler
The best time to see a Swainson's Warbler is April–May, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,600 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Swainson's Warbler sightings near you
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