Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa) is in the New World Warblers family (Parulidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,566 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Kentucky Warbler: observations by month (U.S.)
About Kentucky Warbler
The Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa) is a small species of New World warbler. It is a sluggish and heavy warbler with a short tail, preferring to spend most of its time on or near the ground, except when singing.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Kentucky Warbler by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 656 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 255 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 231 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 230 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 205 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 187 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 176 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | 162 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 157 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 143 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 115 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 111 | May | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | 109 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Florida | 101 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 79 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 77 | May | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 72 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 69 | May | Apr–May |
| California | 59 | November | Nov–Nov |
| South Carolina | 56 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 45 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 39 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 33 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 31 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 24 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 21 | May | May–Jun |
| Arizona | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 17 | May | May–May |
| Nebraska | 14 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 10 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 10 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 9 | May | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 6 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Warblers)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Kentucky Warbler?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Kentucky Warbler most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Missouri, Ohio.