Lucy's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler

Leiothlypis luciae

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Saguaro National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

1,836 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,016 In all 8 parks
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Lucy's Warbler

Lucy's warbler (Leiothlypis luciae) is a small New World warbler found in North America. This species ranges includes southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is one of only two warblers to nest in cavities.

Lucy's warbler is the smallest species of New World warbler. It measures from 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) in length and can weigh from 5.1 to 7.9 g (0.18 to 0.28 oz), thus being slightly smaller even than the warblers formerly placed in the genus Parula. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 49 to 61 mm (1.9 to 2.4 in), the tail is 33 to 41 mm (1.3 to 1.6 in), the bill is 7.8 to 9 mm (0.31 to 0.35 in) and the tarsus is 15 to 17.5 mm (0.59 to 0.69 in).

It is rather undistinguished compared to other wood-warblers, being perhaps the palest species in its family. Its head and upperparts are pale gray, while the underparts are whitish. It has a white eyering and a small, pointed bill. Both genders have a rufous rump, a diagnostic field mark. Adult males also have a small rusty patch on their crown. Juveniles are paler, with a tawny rump and buffy wingbars.

Lucy's warbler is closely related to Virginia's warbler, Nashville warbler and Colima warbler... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song1:05

United States · 2024

© Patrick J. Blake · XC894597 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call1:14

United States · 2022

© Bobby Wilcox · XC717563 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Begging call0:17

United States · 2020

© Richard E. Webster · XC700833 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
2 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
3 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
6 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
7 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
8 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Phoenix 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Mesa 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Guadalajara 🇲🇽 México
<5%
4 Las Vegas 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 San Diego 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 San Francisco 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Los Angeles 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Lucy's Warbler in Saguaro National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Lucy's Warbler sighting in Saguaro National Park on a given day, based on 1,836 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 27th most-seen of the 220 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Lucy's Warbler in Saguaro National Park?

April

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Lucy's Warbler in Saguaro National Park on a given day, against under 5% in October to February, the lowest months. That is one of Saguaro National Park's driest months, with about 5 mm of rain against 55 mm in July.

What time of day is best to see a Lucy's Warbler?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lucy's 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.

Is Saguaro National Park the best place to see a Lucy's Warbler?

Among the best

Of the 8 parks where we can rate Lucy's Warbler sightings, Saguaro National Park ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Death Valley National Park (United States, about 20%).

Where does the Lucy's Warbler sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Lucy's Warbler is recorded against all the birds logged in Saguaro National Park (1,836 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.

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