Male is easily identified by the yellow head, throat, breast, and belly. The female is duller than the male. One of the most widespread warblers in North America occurring just about everwhere except the southeastern and south-central United States and the extreme tundra in the north. Overwinters in America tropics. Usually found in thick brush by streams and marshes.
Food is insects.
The nest is constructed of bark, plant fibers, and down, usually placed in the fork of a small tree or bush. The clutch consists of 4 or 5 pale blue eggs. Incubation takes about 12 days and the young are ready to leave the nest 10 to 12 days later. This species has a local breeding population in southern Florida among the Mangroves.