Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum), Tres Rios Overflow Wetlands, Maricopa County

This Palm Warbler was discovered by Jeff Ritz and Tommy DeBardeleben on 10 November 2012 at the Tres Rios Overflow Wetlands. It was photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben.

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.

Lemon-yellow undertail coverts. General drab, gray-brown coloration elsewhere with dark eye line and long, pale supercillium. The bird also bobbed its tail as it moved around, which is a key characteristic of this species. Brown underparts indicate western subspecies.

10 November 2012, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben