palm warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.5 inches

• small, active, insect-eating bird

• Thin, pointed bill

• Yellow undertail coverts

• Yellowish rump

• Dark legs

• Frequently wags its tail

• Often found in fields and scrubby habitats in fall and winter

• Different races

Yellow (Eastern):

• Rusty cap in adults-most obvious in males, may be absent in immatures

• Bright yellow underparts with rusty streaks on breast

• Olive-brown upperparts

• Plumage brightest in spring and summer

Western:

• Rusty cap in adults-most obvious in males, may be absent in immatures

• Whitish underparts with dark streaks on breast

• Throat may be yellow or whitish

• Brownish-gray upperparts

Similar species:

The palm warbler is quite a variable species. Eastern birds in spring are
very bright yellow underneath with rusty caps and are quite showy. But
immatures in fall can be very dull-especially the western ones. But one
field mark all palm warblers share is that they constantly pump their
tails. The tail-wagging helps draw attention to another good field mark,
the yellow undertail coverts. The prairie warbler also wags its tail but
has brighter yellow underparts, lacks streaking on the breast and a has
different face pattern.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Successional-scrub
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 4-5
Length of Incubation: 12 days
Days to Fledge: 12
Number of Broods: 2?
Diet: Almost exclusively insects; lesser quantities of fruit

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November U

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species