Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Magnolia Warbler
Scientific name:	Setophaga magnolia
Date:	October 3, 2026
Time:	10:45 a.m.
Length of time observed:	7 minutes
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	River Lane
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:	4,500
Distance to bird:	30 feet? Across the river.
Optical equipment:	Swarovski NL Pure 10x42, Nikon Z8 + 600mm Nikkor lens
Weather:	72 degrees, light to no wind
Light Conditions:	Sunny with 40-50% cloud cover
Description: Size of bird:	Warbler-sized
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Round-bodied, typical warbler shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Gray-green upperparts, yellow underparts, dark streaking
(Description:) Bill Type:	Small, fine, pointed
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was walking along the river headed away from the shoreline back toward the gate, stopping frequently to identify the small birds that were darting in and out of the thick Phragmites and the Russian Olives on the other side of the river. Most of them were Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, and Lincoln s Sparrows. I reached a small snag (still on the other side of the river) with a Russian Olive next to it, and there were quite a few Pine Siskins in the Russian Olive. An Orange-crowned Warbler popped out. I could hear Yellow-rumped Warblers. But mostly it was loud Pine Siskins. Some of them landed on the snag, then almost immediately flew back into the Russian Olives. A drab Lesser Goldfinch landed on an upper branch of the snag, and I raised my binoculars to confirm my audible and visual ID, then lowered my binoculars as I continued to watch the birds switching perching spots with each other. Then another, brighter yellow bird landed on a lower branch to the right of the Lesser Goldfinch, while I had my binoculars down. Its rounder shape gave me immediate warbler vibes. Based on general color, I thought, Nashville Warbler. When I looked through my binoculars, I immediately noted the white eyering, white wingbars, and a yellow breast with distinct dark streaking across the breast and sides. The streaking was very distinct, extending down the breast and along the sides toward the lower belly. I also noted a faint gray collar. The streaking down the belly and sides was much more evident and notable in person than I was able to capture with my camera, partially because when I first spotted the warbler, it was completely unobstructed and facing straight toward me, and partially because my photos are overexposed and slightly blurry, which washed out some of the color and contrast. With that combination of features, I had the immediate and shocked thought, Magnolia Warbler! and called McKay (who was a little ways behind me) over for confirmation. I pointed at the bird without telling him what I thought it was and said, What do you see? He had the same immediate response: Magnolia Warbler! The warbler didn t stick around long. In the time it took me to switch from binoculars to camera, it flew from one branch to another. I then only managed a few photos before it flew into the Phragmites right next to the snag. During these moments, it turned its head, giving me a clear view of its small, fine bill. When it flew, it flashed the underside of its tail, showing extensive white toward the base contrasting with a broad black terminal band. It stayed in the Phragmites for a while, where we could hear its squeaky chip call. While there was a mixed flock nearby, the association seemed pretty loose. In summary, I saw a bird with a complete white eyering, two distinct white wingbars, gray-green upperparts, yellow underparts with dark breast/side streaking, and a small, fine bill. When it turned and flew, the underside of the tail showed extensive white toward the base, contrasting with a broad black terminal band. This combination, particularly the wingbars, underpart pattern, complete eyering, and tail pattern, confirmed the conclusion we separately reached: Magnolia Warbler. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Called a few times - a squeaky/nasal chip sound.
Behavior:	Foraging among the vegetation
Habitat:	Russian Olives, Phragmites, Slightly muck/stagnant river, willows
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Canada Warbler - Also can show a gray head, complete eyering, and yellow underparts, but Canada lacks wingbars and shows a different breast pattern, typically forming a distinct dark breast necklace. Our bird showed two obvious white wingbars and did not show a Canada-like necklace. Prairie Warbler - Also shows yellow underparts with dark streaking, but Prairie would show a substantially different yellow-and-olive head pattern and lacks the distinctive Magnolia tail pattern. Our bird instead showed a gray-green head, complete white eyering, two white wingbars, and the contrasting white-and-black tail pattern. Kirtland s Warbler - Similar gray/yellow coloration, but lacks the complete white eyering shown by our bird, and would show a different pattern of dark streaking across the upperparts and flanks. Townsend s Warbler - Would show a more strongly patterned face and more contrasting dark wing pattern than our bird. It also lacks the distinctive Magnolia tail pattern of extensive white toward the base contrasting with a broad dark terminal band. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers were present in the immediate area for direct comparison. Our bird lacked the characteristic yellow rump and showed a different combination of complete white eyering, two white wingbars, yellow underparts with distinct dark breast/side streaking, and the Magnolia tail pattern. Nashville Warbler - This was my initial impression based on general color before I raised my binoculars. Nashville can show a gray head, complete white eyering, and yellow underparts, but lacks wingbars and breast streaking and does not show the Magnolia tail pattern.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I had the opportunity to re-find and view the Magnolia Warbler at Garr Ranch on two separate occasions last year, where I got both excellent looks and strong photos. My photos are included in this sight record: http://www.utahbirds.org/RecCom/2025/2025_53Summary.htm . That experience led me to study Magnolia Warbler further. I believe that prior experience contributed to how quickly the combination of field marks stood out to me in the field. I have never personally seen a Canada Warbler, Prairie Warbler, or Kirtland s Warbler. I have personally seen about 20 individual Townsend s Warblers and 20 individual Nashville Warblers this year alone, mostly in the same area. I ve reported over 400 Yellow-rumped Warblers, including over 40 that day, and I try to spend time carefully observing individual birds.
References consulted:	Sibley s App, Merlin app, The Warbler Guide book, Cornell Lab Allaboutbirds.org
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Esther Sumner
Observer's address:	Utah County resident
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	McKay Olson
Date prepared:	October 4 and October 8
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S398821793