Bahamas (NB), Belize (NB), Cayman Islands (NB), Cuba (NB), Guatemala (NB), Honduras (NB), Jamaica (NB), Mexico (NB), USA (B).
Vagrant to Colombia, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico (NB), Venezuela, Virgin Islands (U.S.).
Breeds in south-eastern USA southern from southern Missouri, south-central Appalachians (West Virginia) and Virginia, and eastern from eastern Texas and south-eastern Oklahoma, but excluding Florida Peninsula. Migrates to western Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Swan Is and Cayman Is) and north-eastern Central America (mainly Yucatán Peninsula and Belize).
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) [XC291225]
by Matt Wistrand from Highland Road Observatory, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States (call)
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) [XC315719]
by David Gibson from Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee, United States (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Affinities not known. Genus has been merged with Helmitheros but, despite superficial similarities, the two are apparently not closely related. Recent studies indicate that it is genetically close to Vermivora cyanoptera and Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) and to Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea). Birds breeding in Appalachians described as a geographical subspecies, alta, supposedly whiter below and browner (less olive) above in worn spring plumage; in fresh autumn plumage, however, more or less inseparable from lowland birds.