Geography/Habitat

The Palm Warbler, (Setophaga palmarum), was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin a German naturalist in 1789 in the Dominican Republic. It was formerly placed in the genus Dendroica due to similarities with Prairie and Pine Warblers, but DNA testing shows closer relationship with Setophaga warblers. Two subspecies are recognized one in US, Canada, Bermuda and the lesser Antilles, the other in Eastern Canada and Texas.

The Palm Warbler is migratory. They breed almost exclusively in North East Canada and winter along the SE US coast, Caribbean islands and Eastern Mexico. Preferred habitat for breeding is almost exclusively boggy Northern Pine forests with dense undergrowth but will occasionally nest in more barren scrub. In Winter it prefers short grass environments, fields lawns and more open woodland.

Breeding runs from May until July and construct a nest of leaves grass, bark and moss lined with feathers. The nest is typically on the ground or in very low bushes in which 4-5 eggs are laid. Incubation is typically 12 days and chicks fledge soon after.

Preferred food are insect larvae and other invertebrates but will eat seed and plant material especially in Winter. Note Palm Warblers are often territorial around food supply. They forage on or close to the ground. Note they love nectar and will feed from hummingbird feeders.

Identification

A medium to large warbler with a distinctively long tail that is pumped up and down. It has a yellowthroat and breast a whitish belly with some streaking and yellow under tail coverts. The face is gray with a black eye stripe with a light one above and chestnut colored cap. Note the western subspecies is drabber as are the females. In flight the primaries and tail are dark but the latter has distinctive white corners.

The Palm Warblers’ song is an uneven buzzy trill and its call a coarse husky “chik”.

Interesting Facts:

• ·       The constant tail bobbing is diagnostic ID feature for Palm Warblers, (although Kirtland’s and Prairie can do this too).
• 
  
• ·       Palm Warblers are ground feeders but will sally from the ground to catch insects in flight.
• 
  
• ·       A group of Palm Warblers is known as a Reading