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Palm Warbler

Status Fairly common in summer, rare in winter. Breeds. This is one of the first warblers to arrive in spring (average 20 April, earliest 7 April). During the breeding season it is found in bogs and scrubby clearings within the coniferous forest. Migration is obvious in September, but large movements are generally not recorded until October. Small numbers are routine through November, and a few birds have occurred on Christmas Bird Counts around the province. They are much less regular later in winter. Late reports include two near Port Williams, Kings County, on 21 February 1953; one near Halifax on 25 January 1955; and another at Marion Bridge, Cape Breton County, on 20 January 1970. Individuals also have survived the winter on Sable Island on at least two occasions.

Description Length: 13-14 cm. Adults: Crown chestnut, with border of yellow forming a line over eye; cheek and back brownish olive, brighter on rump; outer tail feathers show white spots near the end, most conspicuous in flight; underparts yellow, with reddish brown stripes on breast and along sides.

Breeding Nest: On the ground (rarely in a low bush), usually located on dry, open barrens but sometimes in wet sphagnum bogs and always well concealed. It is composed of grass stems and sections of dry leaves of bracken (Pteridium), with a lining of fine grass, deer hair and invariably feathers, often those of the Spruce Grouse. Eggs: 4-5, usually 5; white, with cinnamon-or olive-brown spots or blotches or both, chiefly around the larger end. Nest construction is well under way during the first ten days of May and laying begins about the middle of the month. The earliest date for a complete set is 20 May 1909 at Caledonia, Queens County (H.F. Tufts). With regard to clutch size, a breakdown of the contents of 61 nests reveals that 36 contained sets of five, and 25 sets of four. Feathers used for lining nests have been identified as those of Spruce Grouse, Blue Jay and Robin, given in the order of frequency. The eggs in a set of four examined on 31 May 1909 were practically white, there being but slight trace of any pigmentation. This was an abnormality.

Range Breeds from northeastern British Columbia, southern Mackenzie Valley, northern Manitoba, central Quebec, and Newfoundland, south to Nova Scotia, northern Minnesota and central Alberta. Winters from southeastern United States to Puerto Rico and Yucatan.

Remarks Its song is a monotonous trill with slight variations, some renditions being suggestive of the junco's song. This bird's colour pattern is drab in comparison with those of many of its close relatives. When seen in life, it might best be described as a tawny, yellowish warbler, feeding usually near or on the ground. Its chestnut crown patch is a good mark, as is its habit of constant tail-tipping.

Two incidents of strange behaviour seem noteworthy: Eric Dodge saw one come into his garden in Middleton on 16 August 1949 and offer a small green worm to his pet Cedar Waxwing, which eagerly accepted it. When I was walking over the barrens at Albany, Annapolis County, with Harold F. Tufts on 27 May 1939, one flushed underfoot. Glancing down we saw not only one nest but two, typically under a spruce seedling, but placed so close together that their edges were touching. One contained three warm eggs, the other held two that were cold. The bird had laid her normal complement of five eggs, but why were they not all in one nest? Both had obviously been constructed that season, but the one that held two eggs looked frail and seemed to lack the finishing touches. A plausible explanation is difficult to construct.

The nesting subspecies in Nova Scotia is the "Yellow Palm Warbler," Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. Several observers have reported the "Western Palm Warbler," Dendroica palmarum palmarum, among birds in autumn. It is distinguished by a complete lack of yellow on its lower breast and underparts except for the undertail coverts. It nests in western Ontario and beyond, and may be more regular as a migrant here than generally realized.