Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum), Rio de Flag below Willow Bend near sewage treatment plant, Coconino County

This Palm Warbler was found during the Christmas Bird Count by Ron Auler, Glo Auler, Bea Cooley, and one other observer on 29 December 2012.  It was photographed by Bea Cooley at the same time. 

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.

29 December 2012, photo by Bea Cooley

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