PALM WARBLER

PALM WARBLER(Setophaga palmarum) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Palm Warbler has a rusty crown and a yellow eyebrow. The upper parts are mostly brown. The under parts are yellow with rusty brown streaks on the sides. Sexes are similar. It is around 13 cm (5 inches) long.
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-palmarum
NAME: This warbler was called ‘Palm’ (and ‘palmarum’) because the first specimen was found in its wintering area in the Caribbean. Warblers are thus called thanks to their generally melodious songs. The Latin genus name ‘Setophaga’ is from Greek and means ‘to eat moths’.
HABITAT: Boreal forest near water in the summer, prairie, marshes, fields, parks in the winter.
DIET: Spends most of its time on the ground foraging for insects. Feeds on seeds and berries during migration and winter.
NESTING: Nest placed on the ground in well-concealed area. Around four white eggs are laid, incubated by both parents (likely). Chicks fed by both parents. When nest parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbird, parents cover the alien egg and build another nest on top of it.
DISTRIBUTION: In spite of its name, this species is actually one that breeds almost the furthest north in Canada’s boreal forests for a warbler.
Distribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_warbler#/media/File:Dendroica_palmarum_map.svg
ON PEI: Breeds on Prince Edward Island, fairly common.
CONSERVATION: Numbers appear stable, but vulnerable to pollution from natural resources extraction industries. One of the most often killed at lighted buildings during migration.
NOTES: One of the few warblers constantly bobbing its tail.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Prairie Warbler, Cape May Warbler
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/palm-warbler
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Palm_Warbler/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/palm-warbler
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/335/_/Palm_Warbler.aspx
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/335/overview/Palm_Warbler.aspx

Palm Warbler – Souris Area, PEI – May 20, 2016 – © Wanda Bailey
Palm warbler, PEI, by Wanda Bailey
Palm Warbler – North Lake, PEI – June 8, 2017 – © Joanne Dunphy
Palm warbler, PEI, by Joanne Dunphy
Palm warbler during migration – photo by Tony Clements
Palm warbler, by Tony Clements