Illustration of warbler
- warbler 2a
plural warblers
1
a
: any of numerous small chiefly Old World oscine birds formerly all of one family (Sylviidae) many of which are noted songsters and are closely related to the thrushes
So, why are European warblers drab? Well, they accomplish the same thing, males compete with other males and attract females, but they do it through their songs instead. They tend to be prolific songsters. So European warblers just chose a different type of communication.—
Irby Lovette, quoted at AllAboutBirds.org
Irby Lovette, quoted at AllAboutBirds.org
b
: any of numerous small brightly colored American oscine birds (families Parulidae and Peucedramidae) with a usually weak and unmusical song
The American warblers are incredible bits of life, small and active, varied and colorful. … Because these birds are so tiny, so hyperactive, so good at hiding behind leaves, most people never see them at all. But once you start looking for them, warblers are like magical prizes that come into your life as a reward for paying close enough attention.—Kenn Kaufman
Kenn Kaufmancalled also wood warbler
Examples of warbler in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet under two of the most common scientific definitions of species, the biological and phylogenetic species concepts, blue-winged and golden-winged warblers are considered the same species.
—Elay Shech, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
How did the female warblers react to traffic noises?
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
But, if cowbird eggs were lain and then removed by the warblers, the nests were successful only about 60 percent of the time.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Throughout the marshes and along sandy beaches, visitors will see pelicans wading around piers with their gular pouches full of fish, ospreys, warblers, terns, herons, egrets, black-necked stilts, and roseate spoonbills, which are a vibrant bubblegum-pink color, due to their shrimp diet.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
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Elay Shech, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
How did the female warblers react to traffic noises?
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
But, if cowbird eggs were lain and then removed by the warblers, the nests were successful only about 60 percent of the time.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Throughout the marshes and along sandy beaches, visitors will see pelicans wading around piers with their gular pouches full of fish, ospreys, warblers, terns, herons, egrets, black-necked stilts, and roseate spoonbills, which are a vibrant bubblegum-pink color, due to their shrimp diet.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warbler
Cite this Entry
“Warbler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warbler. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
warbler
noun
war·bler
ˈwȯr-blər 
1
: one that warbles
2
a
: any of numerous small Old World songbirds many of which are noted for their melodious song and which are closely related to the thrushes
b
: any of numerous small brightly colored American songbirds with a usually weak and unmusical song
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