Habitat
During the breeding season in forest woodland, secondary growth and scrub habitats. Wintering birds in Andean submontane forest. From 500 - 2,000 m.
Bahamas (NB), Barbados, Belize (NB), Bolivia (NB), Canada (B), Colombia (NB), Costa Rica (NB), Cuba (NB), Ecuador (NB), Guatemala (NB), Honduras (NB), Jamaica (NB), Mexico (NB), Panama (NB), Peru (NB), USA (B), Venezuela (NB).
Vagrant to Brazil (NB), Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles (NB), Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago.
Breeds locally in south-eastern Canada (south-eastern Ontario, extreme southern Quebec) south in eastern USA to northern Alabama and Virginia (absent coastal Atlantic and Gulf lowlands). Migrates to western South America from northern Colombia and Venezuela south to southern Peru and western Bolivia.
 
Population
Estimated population is 560,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) [XC598826]
by Christopher McPherson from Skinner State Park (near Hadley), Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States (song)
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) [XC650721]
by Christopher McPherson from Finnie Rd, Fox Township, Kendall County, Illinois, United States (aberrant, flight call, song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Affinities within genus uncertain. Has been suggested that Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) is its closest relative, on basis mainly of similarities in vocalizations. Has hybridized with Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia).