Palm Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPalm Warbler
Breeding adult (Yellow)
On the larger side for a warbler with a round belly and a rusty cap. Warblers breeding east of Hudson Bay (“Yellow” Palm Warblers) have entirely yellow underparts with stronger rusty streaks on the breast and yellow eyebrows.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 03, 2015Breeding adult (Western)
Large, stocky warbler with a rusty cap. Individuals breeding west of Hudson Bay (“Western” Palm Warblers) have whitish bellies, yellow undertails, and pale eyebrows.
© County Lister Brendan / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 18, 2019Breeding adult (Western)
Wags tail nearly constantly. Note yellow undertail coverts, which are distinctive in all plumages and populations.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2015Nonbreeding adult/immature (Yellow)
Nonbreeding/immatures have paler yellow undertails, a dull brown crown, and faint streaking on the breast. Most individuals in eastern North America (Yellow) have yellower bellies and a yellow eyebrow.
© Fyn Kynd / Macaulay LibraryMaine, October 18, 2015Nonbreeding adult/immature (Western)
Nonbreeders and immatures have paler yellow undertails, a dull brown crown, and faint streaking on the breast. Individuals in western North America (Western) have whitish bellies and a pale eyebrow.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryOntario, September 09, 2020Nonbreeding adult/immature (Western)
Nonbreeders and immatures have paler yellow undertails, a dull brown crown, and faint streaking on the breast. Note yellow undertail coverts.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 25, 2020Nonbreeding adult/immature (Western)
Nonbreeders and immatures have paler yellow undertails, a dull brown crown, and faint streaking on the breast. Note yellow undertail coverts.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 13, 2016Breeding adult (Western)
Often forages on the ground and in open areas. Wags tail nearly constantly.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 06, 2015Breeding adult (Western)
Often found foraging on the ground. Wags its tail nearly constantly.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 13, 2017Habitat
Breeds in the boreal forest in bogs with scattered evergreen trees and thick ground cover. Eastern birds have entirely yellow underparts.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 14, 2015Breeding adult (Western)
Eats insects in summer and seeds and berries in winter. Typically forages in open areas including bogs, weedy fields, and forest edges.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 06, 2011Similar SpeciesPrairie Warbler
Adult male
Prairie Warbler is smaller than Palm Warbler, with black (not brown or rusty) stripes on the flanks.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012Similar SpeciesPrairie Warbler
Female/immature
Smaller than Palm Warbler with black (not brown or rusty) stripes on the flanks and no prominent eyebrow.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 02, 2016Similar SpeciesCape May Warbler
Adult male
Cape May Warblers are smaller than Palm Warblers with rusty on the face but not on the crown or breast like Palm Warblers. Generally not found on the ground and does not bob tail like Palm Warblers.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 17, 2017Similar SpeciesCape May Warbler
Female/immature
Female and immature Cape May Warbler is smaller than Palm Warbler with a shorter tail and no eyebrow stripe. Often found in the canopy and does not bob tail like Palm Warblers.
© Lucas Berrigan / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, September 01, 2016Similar SpeciesYellow-rumped Warbler
Adult male (Myrtle)
Yellow-rumped Warblers have yellow on the rump (above the tail) not under the tail as in Palm Warblers. Found in trees and shrubs, not on the ground like Palm Warblers.
© Paul Tavares / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, April 30, 2017Similar SpeciesYellow-rumped Warbler
Female (Myrtle)
Female Yellow-rumped can be brownish like Palm Warbler, but they have white under the tail and yellow above the tail whereas Palm Warblers have yellow under the tail.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 14, 2017Similar SpeciesLouisiana Waterthrush
Adult
Louisiana Waterthrushes are larger than Palm Warblers with white (not yellow) undertail coverts.
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 12, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Waterthrush
Adult
Northern Waterthrushes are larger than Palm Warblers with white (not yellow) undertail coverts.
© Paul Tavares / Macaulay LibraryMatanzas, February 13, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Pipit
Nonbreeding/immature
American Pipits are plainer, streakier birds without the yellow tones of Palm Warblers.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 15, 2015Search species and articles
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