warbler

Any of two families of songbirds, order Passeriformes. The Old World warblers are in the family Sylviidae, while the New World warblers are members of the Parulidae.

American or wood warblers (family Parulidae) are small, insect-eating birds, often brightly coloured, such as the yellow warbler, prothonatory warbler, and dozens of others. This group is sometimes placed in the same family (Emberizidae) as sparrows and orioles. Old World warblers (family Sylviidae) are typically slim and dull-plumaged above, lighter below, insectivorous, and fruit-eating, overwhelmingly represented in Eurasia and Africa. These are sometimes considered a subgroup of the same family (Muscicapidae) that includes thrushes.