“Yellow” subspecies of Palm Warbler photographed in NH in fall

“Western” subspecies of Palm Warbler photographed in winter on Sanibel Island, on the west coast of southern FL

Along with many sparrows resembling White-throated, White-crowned, Music, Chipping, Swamp, and Lincoln’s Sparrows we had migrating by New England, there are some Palm Warblers, high picture above. These late migrating, stunning warblers have yellow breasts and deep yellow undertail coverts. They continually wag their tail up and down, a pleasant giveaway to their identification. These shiny “yellow” Palms are the japanese subspecies of Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea) and breed from central Quebec east. They winter alongside the Gulf Coast, from LA to northern FL.

The “western” subspecies of Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum palmarum) breeds from Ontario west, throughout to components of the Yukon and ne. British Columbia and winters within the Southeast, down by south FL. Some may additionally winter on the West Coast. This subspecies has little or no yellow on the breast however nonetheless has shiny yellow undertail coverts. There’s a breeding zone south of James Bay the place they intergrade. This provides you some thought of why Palm Warblers might look totally different, relying on which space of the nation you’re in.

Get pleasure from watching the Palm Warblers forage close to the bottom in goldenrods alongside the perimeters of fields in migration.