They have yellow underparts and black head markings in at least the adult male plumage.

Wilsonia warblers feed on insects, often caught by flycatching, and they have distinctive songs and loud chip calls.

[1] Recent genetic research has however suggested that the type species of Wilsonia (hooded warbler W. citrina) and of Setophaga (American redstart S. ruticilla) are closely related and should be merged into the same genus.

Where this is accepted, the other two Wilsonia species are then transferred to their next-most closely related genus, Cardellina.

This genus was named to commemorate the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson.