New World Warblers: Parulidae

New World warblers are relatively small birds ranging from 4 to 7.5 inches (10 to 19 centimeters) long, although most are 4 to 5.5 inches (10 to 14 centimeters). They stand on thin, delicate-looking legs, typically have short and pointy beaks that are either slender or flat, but a few have heavier-appearing bills. Unlike all other songbirds, New World warblers have only nine primary feathers rather than ten. Many are colorful or boldly patterned, but the females' duller colors make them appear quite drab next to their striking male counterparts. The juveniles usually look much like the adult females, and males of some of the cooler-climate species also switch to a female-like, dull coloration in the fall and winter.