Red Warbler (Cardellina rubra), Rose Canyon Campground, Santa Catalina Mts., Pima County

This Red Warbler was found by Janet Stein and Janet Moore on 09 April 2018 and photographed by Dave Stejskal and Andy Boyce on the same day.

Red Warbler is a Mexican endemic species that occurs in the mountains of both eastern and western Mexico. The gray (black) cheeked subspecies occurs north to at least n.e. Sinaloa and s.w. Chihuahua while the white-cheeked subspecies group occurs in central and southern Mexico. If accepted by the ABC, this would constitute the first record of this species in Arizona and the U.S. The origin of this individual will be discussed by the ABC and the ABA.

This beautiful warbler is unmistakable, but it is worth discussing the two subspecies groups. As the cheek patch is white to a light gray in the photos it appears to be of the southern subspecies group. This appears to be an After Second Year (ASY) bird as Second Year (SY) birds apparently show a noticeable molt limit in the greater coverts and lack red edging to the flight feathers (fide Oscar Johnson).

09 April 2018, photo by Dave Stejskal

 

09 April 2018, photo by Andy Boyce

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer