Black-and-white Warblers reach District of Columbia in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (30% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.
When to look
First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byMay 22-31late May
Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 30% of District of Columbia checklists.
Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in District of Columbia that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Pinehurst BranchDistrict of Columbia County, best early May · 34 checklists that week, 584 in all55%
Rock Creek ParkDistrict of Columbia County, best the second week of September · 55 checklists that week, 1,907 in all54%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In District of Columbia, the Black-and-white Warbler is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 am (17% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
0.1%
0%
0%
0%
February
0%
0%
0%
0%
March
0%
0.1%
0%
0%
April
0.2%
0.7%
5.2%
25%
May
38%
26%
10%
1.9%
June
0.4%
0.2%
0.2%
0.1%
July
0.1%
0.1%
0.2%
0.3%
August
0.3%
1.3%
5.1%
16%
September
21%
19%
27%
21%
October
12%
3.5%
0.7%
0%
November
0.1%
0%
0.1%
0.2%
December
0.2%
0.1%
0.1%
0%
Neighboring states
Maryland: arrives early August, 15 weeks later than District of Columbia
Virginia: arrives late March, 2 weeks earlier than District of Columbia
Delaware: arrives the second week of August, 16 weeks later than District of Columbia
Pennsylvania: arrives mid April, 1 week later than District of Columbia
Common questions
When do Black-and-white Warblers arrive in District of Columbia?
Black-and-white Warblers reach District of Columbia in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (30% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.
When do Black-and-white Warblers leave District of Columbia?
Most Black-and-white Warblers have left District of Columbia by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see a Black-and-white Warbler in District of Columbia?
The Black-and-white Warbler is reported most often in early May, on about 30% of District of Columbia checklists.
Where in District of Columbia are Black-and-white Warblers seen most often?
By county, District of Columbia County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Black-and-white Warbler (counties with at least 200 checklists).
