Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia
When they leave their winter homes in the tropics of southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, or the Caribbean, many Magnolia Warblers pass through southern Texas on their way north to raise the next generation. Their summer range stretches from northeast British Columbia and southwest Northwestern Territories through the Great Lakes region of Canada and the USA, and continues to Canada’s Maritime Provinces and the northeastern USA.
They forage mostly in the upper canopy, looking for caterpillars when they can find them and any bug, spider, or arthropod when they can’t. They build their small nests (under 4″ in diameter) at about 10-15 feet up in fir trees.
Around 2010 and 2011, the discipline of genetics began dominating the science of taxonomy. They shifted the Magnolia and many other warblers from Dendroica to Setophaga, and now the new genus has 34 members, the most of any genus in the family Parulidae.
Today’s science recognises no subspecies of Magnolia Warblers (i.e. they are monotypic).
I enjoyed meeting migrating Magnolia Warblers during both my 2020 and my 2021 spring visits to South Padre Island. More recently, I met these birds on their breeding grounds at Lesser Slave Lake in Alberta Canada.
25 Photos

Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:55 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502083-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502315-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502326-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502334-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:28 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502585-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:28 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502592-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 11:19 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D502340-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: The Magnolia Warbler is a handsome bird. At a quick glance it might be mistaken for a Townsend’s Warbler, but the yellow extends low onto the belly of this bird. This meeting was during my second full day on South Padre Island, Texas. It was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 7:51 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D501723-South-Padre |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: I spent a few minutes at the Convention Centre before going next door and met this warbler. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 9:49 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X2207_SPI-ConventionCentre |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Magnolia Warblers are lovely birds, but they were not the most exciting find this day. The Blackburnian Warbler held that crown. Spring visits to South Padre Island can produce unexpected results. Sometimes there are lulls in the migration, and other times there are spikes. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:29 10:39 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X3424_SPI-ConventionCtr |
(C)2020 Jack Daynes |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Soon they will move north to breed, but for now we continue to enjoy the company of these birds. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 10:51 |
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X4561_SPI-Sheepshead |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Soon they will move north to breed, but for now we continue to enjoy the company of these birds. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 12:01 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X4785_SPI-ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Soon they will move north to breed, but for now we continue to enjoy the company of these birds. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 12:01 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X4797_SPI-ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Soon they will move north to breed, but for now we continue to enjoy the company of these birds. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 16:13 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X5265_SPI-ConventionCtr |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Many of the flashy warblers passing through sported a lot of yellow. Magnolia Warblers in particular fit this pattern. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:06 14:03 |
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_D5X6850_SPI-BirdAndNatureCTR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Magnolia Warblers were among the warbler species I met in these woods. The best location in Fort Nelson to meet birds is Demonstration Forest at the northwest corner of town. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:24 11:30 |
Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8504276-FortNelson.BC_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 11:44 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503599-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 11:44 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503602-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 11:46 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503604-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 11:46 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503617-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: A new bird for me during this fall migration on South Padre Island was this Magnolia Warbler. Early this spring, I enjoyed their company in Alberta Canada. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:15 12:34 |
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503043-SPI.ConventionCentre |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: A new bird for me during this fall migration on South Padre Island was this Magnolia Warbler. Early this spring, I enjoyed their company in Alberta Canada. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:15 12:34 |
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503040-SPI.ConventionCentre |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: A new bird for me during this fall migration on South Padre Island was this Magnolia Warbler. Early this spring, I enjoyed their company in Alberta Canada. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:15 12:33 |
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8503025-SPI.ConventionCentre |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Magnolia Warblers were among the warbler species I met in these woods. The best location in Fort Nelson to meet birds is Demonstration Forest at the northwest corner of town. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:24 17:13 |
Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8504489-FortNelson |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Magnolia Warbler(Setophaga magnolia) |
Description: Magnolia Warblers were among the warbler species I met in these woods. The best location in Fort Nelson to meet birds is Demonstration Forest at the northwest corner of town. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:24 17:13 |
Location:
Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: MagnoliaWarbler_8504480-FortNelson |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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