Palm Warbler, Western (Brown) Subspecies

Description:

Very common medium size warbler, about 4.5 to 5.5 inches in length. Underparts vary from yellow to whitish buff. Rusty cap, breast streaks and a bright yellow throat are more prominent in breeding season. Western (Brown) subspecies has grayish-brown underparts and much less yellow than the Eastern (Yellow) subspecies.Both have bright yellow undertails and a yellowish olive rump. Constant tail bobbing when foraging is an identifying characteristic of the palm warbler.

Habitat:

Despite it's tropical name, the Palm Warbler breeds as far north as Northern Canada and winters in the south eastern United States and northern Caribbean. It is found in a variety of habitats from woodlands, thickets, savannas, the edges of marshes and mangrove coasts. I see them nearly everywhere I go in Florida in the winter, but most often I see them in wooded areas near water. They are often foraging for food on the ground or in the low thickets. I have seen them jump up to catch a fleeing insect in the air.

Notes:

This Palm Warbler was sitting on a dead palm frond.