The crescent-chested warbler is superficially similar to both the northern parula and the tropical parula, with yellow underparts, a gray head, and a greenish back, but neither of these has a bold white eyebrow.
The crescent-chested warbler bears a resemblance to both the northern parula and the tropical parula in terms of its yellow belly, gray crown, and greenish upperparts; however, it differs from them in having a distinctive white brow stripe.