A medium-sized (4 ½ -5 ½ inches) wood warbler, the Palm Warbler in summer is most easily identified by its dark brown back, streaked flanks, and conspicuous rusty crown. Two subspecies exist: an eastern subspecies, which has predominantly yellow underparts; and a western subspecies, which has some white on the breast and yellow elsewhere. Male and female Palm Warblers are similar in all seasons, becoming duller and browner in winter. The Palm Warbler primarily breeds across east-central Canada. Smaller numbers breed south of the United States border in the Upper Midwest and in Maine. In winter, the western subspecies of the Palm Warbler migrates to the U.S. Pacific coast, the coastal southeast, the West Indies, southern Mexico, and Central America, while the eastern subspecies winters along the Gulf Coast from Florida west to Texas. Palm Warblers breed in a variety of dense evergreen habitats, and is particularly attracted to bogs. In winter, this species may be found in semi-open habitats, such as thickets, roadsides, and mangroves. Palm Warblers primarily eat small invertebrates, including insects and spiders, although this species may eat some plant material, particularly fruits and berries, during the winter. In appropriate habitat, Palm Warblers may be observed foraging for insects on the ground or in low branches of shrubs and trees. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a high “zhe” note repeated several times in succession. Palm Warblers are primarily active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
The palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.
Measurements:[2]
The species comprises two distinct subspecies that may merit specific status.
"Yellow palm warbler" or "eastern palm warbler" (S. p. hypochrysea) of the eastern third of the breeding range has brownish-olive upper parts and thoroughly yellow underparts with bold rufous breast and flank streaking. It migrates later in the fall than its western counterpart.
"Brown palm warbler" or "western palm warbler" (S. p. palmarum) inhabits the remaining western two-thirds of the breeding range. It has much less yellow below, with less colorful streaking, and cold grayish-brown upper parts.
Palm warblers breed in open coniferous bogs and edge east of the Continental Divide, across Canada and the northeastern United States.
These birds migrate to the southeastern United States, the Yucatán Peninsula, islands of the Caribbean, and eastern Nicaragua south to Panama to winter.[3] They are one of the earlier migrants to return to their breeding grounds in the spring, often completing their migration almost two months before most other warblers. Unlike most Setophaga species, the palm warbler's winter range includes much of the Atlantic coast of North America, extending as far north as southern Nova Scotia.[4] Every year since 1900 the palm warbler has been observed during Christmas Bird Count activities in Massachusetts, and consistently since 1958 in Nova Scotia.[5] For the interval 1966–2015 the palm warbler population increased throughout much of its northernmost breeding range.[6]
The palm warbler has been recorded as a vagrant to Iceland.[7]
Palm warbler nests take the form of an open cup, usually situated on or near the ground in an open area.
Palm warblers forage on the ground much more than other warblers, sometimes flying to catch insects. These birds mainly eat insects and berries. Their constant tail bobbing is an identifying characteristic. Kirtland's, prairie, and palm warblers are the only Setophaga species that incessantly bob their tails.
The song of this bird is a monotonous buzzy trill. The call is a sharp chek.
Western subspecies, in non-breeding plumage
A palm warbler during its spring migration
The palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.
