Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Length: 5.5″; Wingspan 8″; Weight: 0.36 oz.
The Palm Warbler is one of the wood warblers. It is fairly common on Seabrook in the winter months and many are being seen right now on Seabrook. The most obvious field mark is its tail-wagging habit. Although it is a rather dull olive on its back, as it wags, it shows its brighter yellow underparts. You also might pick up the soft striping on its breast and sides. The male sports a rusty-colored cap in its breeding plumage although we would be less likely to see that here because it does not breed here.
This warbler will eat some seeds and fruits in the winter months but it prefers insects.
The Palm Warbler has a weak trill like that of the Chipping Sparrow, but slower. It is primarily on one note but increases slightly in intensity as it progresses.
Although its name would seem to indicate that this bird is found mostly in palm trees, in fact it can be seen in a variety of habitats: open woodlands, low in thickets of shrubs, on the ground, and in open fields.
If you would like to learn more about this bird visit:
Article submitted by: Marcia Hider 2017 and republished by SIB 2022.
Photographs provided by: Ed Konrad & Glen Bartley
This blog post is part of a series SIB will publish on a regular basis to feature birds seen in the area, both migratory and permanent residents. When possible we will use photographs taken by our members. Please let us know if you have any special requests of birds you would like to learn more about.
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