Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Tennessee Warbler

ParulidaeForest birdsLeiothlypis peregrina

Tennessee Warbler has surged: up 76% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+76%Since 1968
175Routes
58Years Surveyed

About the Tennessee Warbler

The Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) is a North American member of the Wood-Warblers (Parulidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.

Size
4.5–5.5 in long (11–14 cm) — a small, active songbird (typical for the family)
Habitat
Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
Diet
Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
Range
Recorded on 175 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 10 states, most concentrated in the Atlantic Northern Forest.
Family
Parulidae · Forest birds

Notable Tennessee Warbler Trends

No notable trend signals for Tennessee Warbler. See the full index history below.

Tennessee Warbler Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Tennessee Warbler is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.03). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±57.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.01Projected 2029 index
0.000.0395% range
±57.5%Backtest error
19662029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.010.000.03
20260.010.000.03
20270.010.000.03
20280.010.000.03
20290.010.000.03

Where the Tennessee Warbler Is Detected

BBS routes recording Tennessee Warbler, sized by most recent count.

Tennessee Warbler Population Trend by State

Tennessee Warbler population trend by state.
Alaska-90%199516
Maine-87%197160
Michigan-38%197126
Minnesota+18%197130
Montana+12%19886
New Hampshire-9%196810
New York+135%197610
Pennsylvaniainsufficient datan/a1
Vermontinsufficient datan/a5
Wisconsin-25%198411

Tennessee Warbler Population Trend by Region

Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.

Tennessee Warbler population trend by Bird Conservation Region.
BCR 4-80%199511
Northern Rockies+20%19886
Boreal Hardwood Transition+163%197062
Atlantic Northern Forest-63%196884
Prairie Hardwood Transition-44%19965

Tennessee Warbler Conservation Status

Our route-weighted index shows it up about 76% since 1968.

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.