Setophaga magnolia
Silhouette: Dylan GE Gomes · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia) is a member of the wood warbler family Parulidae. The genus name Setophaga is from Ancient Greek ses, "moth", and phagos, "eating", and the specific magnolia refers to the type locality. American ornithologist Alexander Wilson found this species in magnolias near Fort Adams, Mississippi.
This species is a moderately small New World warbler. It measures 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) in length and spans 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) across the wings. Body mass in adult birds can range from 6.6 to 12.6 g (0.23 to 0.44 oz), though weights have reportedly ranged up to 15 g (0.53 oz) prior to migration. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.4 to 6.4 cm (2.1 to 2.5 in), the tail is 4.6 to 5.2 cm (1.8 to 2.0 in), the bill is 0.8 to 1 cm (0.31 to 0.39 in) and the tarsus is 1.7 to 1.85 cm (0.67 to 0.73 in). The magnolia warbler can be distinguished by its coloration. The breeding males often have white, gray, and black backs with yellow on the sides; yellow and black-striped stomachs; white, gray, and black foreheads and beaks; distinct black tails with white stripes on the underside; and defined white patches... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Pedro Sula | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Detroit | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Havana | 🇨🇺 Cuba | |
| 7 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 9 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Zoological Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Xcaret | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Magnolia Warbler sighting in Boston on a given day, based on 2,370 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 87th most-seen of the 283 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Magnolia Warbler in Boston on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Magnolia Warbler sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 31 cities where we can rate Magnolia Warbler sightings, Boston ranks 13th at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in San Pedro Sula (Honduras, about 10%), Chicago (United States, about 10%) and New York City (United States, about 10%).
Same genus: Setophaga
The closest relatives of the Magnolia Warbler that you can see in Boston (genus Setophaga, Setophaga Warblers) are Yellow-rumped Warbler (about 20%), Yellow Warbler (about 20%) and Northern Yellow Warbler (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Magnolia Warbler is recorded against all the birds logged in Boston (2,370 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
