Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum), Lake Cochise, Cochise County

This Palm Warbler was discovered and photographed by Trevor Waller on 11 May 2011.

Palm Warbler is a casual transient and winter visitor. There are over 50 records for the state and for a while it was removed from the Arizona Bird Committee Review list, but, like some other boreal breeding warblers, its occurrence in Arizona in recent years has declined and it was returned to the review list. There have been several recent records perhaps indicating it is increasing again.

Yellow undertail coverts and rusty cap indicate Palm Warbler.  This bird appeared much yellower in the field suggesting the possibility that it was the eastern subspecies. However, the photos are more consistent with a breeding plumaged Western Palm Warbler.  Eastern Palm Warbler in breeding plumage is completely bright yellow below with bright rusty breast streaks. 

11 May 2011, photo by Trevor Waller

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