Yellow to yellow-green cap with black face markings and broad yellow wing bars. Breeds from central Canada east to the Maritime Provinces, south through New England and the Great Lakes and through the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. Nests in early to middle successional habitats where it prefers deciduous, brushy areas. Winters in central Mexico south through Central America. Begins to arrive on its northern breeding grounds in mid-May.
More northern populations are stable or undergoing local population declines.