Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina), Sweetwater Wetlands, Pima County

This Tennessee Warbler was discovered by Will Russell on 23 October 2009 and photographed by Andrew Core on 25 October 2009.

 Tennessee Warbler was one of the more common of the eastern vagrant warblers prior to 1990 with over a hundred reports.  It was even removed from the review list for a time.  Like many other northerly breeding warblers, it has become much rarer recently and was put back on the review list.  There are fewer than 10 accepted records since 2000.  However, the number of reports has increased in the last couple of years, especially at Sweetwater and at the Gilbert Water Ranch.  This is the second one at Sweetwater this fall. 

Note the whitish undertail coverts, short tail and lack of streaking which separate this species from Orange-crowned Warbler.

25 October 2009, photo by Andrew Core

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