warbler

noun war·bler \ ˈwȯr-blər \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Definition of warbler

1 : one that warbles : singer, songster

2 a : any of numerous small chiefly Old World oscine birds (family Sylviidae) many of which are noted songsters and are closely related to the thrushes

b : any of numerous small brightly colored American oscine birds (family Parulidae) with a usually weak and unmusical song — called also wood warbler

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Recent Examples of warbler from the Web

Chiffchaffs and willow warblers sing in the sallow and alder, while every leaf seems to hold a butterfly or dragonfly or hoverfly.

— The Economist, "Brexit is reverberating in British literature," 5 July 2018
Highlights from Sandy Neck in Barnstable included a yellow-throated warbler, a clapper rail, 10 marsh wrens, a seaside sparrow, and 28 saltmarsh sparrows.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Bird sightings on Cape Cod," 4 June 2018
This time, the warbler saw the hawk and not the other way around.

— ben raines, AL.com, "The hidden lake: a primordial secret found," 17 Apr. 2018
The warbler has recovered steadily since then, aided by a coalition of government agencies and nonprofit groups that conserved its breeding grounds.

— john flesher, Detroit Free Press, "Feds propose dropping Kirtland's warbler from endangered list," 11 Apr. 2018
The riverside alder thickets are great for seeing migratory species and breeding warblers.

— jill k. robinson, SFChronicle.com, "5 places to spot birds in Half Moon Bay," 12 July 2018
It’s unclear if Hiles conducted any recent surveys to determine if warblers were nesting in the area.

— john tedesco, San Antonio Express-News, "City says developer who clear cut trees was following rules," 29 June 2018
The paper looked at about a dozen songbird species, including the American robin, red-faced warbler, and other arboreal species, as well as ground-dwelling birds like the house wren and white-breasted nuthatch.

— National Geographic, "Birds That Leave Nest Too Late Can Endanger Their Families," 25 June 2018
Sometimes a warbler’s flitting would cause a shower of white petals.

— eric boodman, STAT, "A career in biotech brought success. Then the birds came calling," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'warbler.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.