Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 201
2-31


Common name:

'Eastern' Palm Warbler

Scientific name: Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea
Date: 07-31-2012
Time: 5:35pm
Length of time observed: 3 minutes
Number: 1
Age: unknown
Sex: unknown
Location: Near the Ruth Lake trailhead in the Uinta mountains
County: Summit
Latilong:  
Elevation: 10,400 feet
Distance to bird: 20 feet
Optical equipment: 10X50 Bushnell binoculars, Cannon SX20 Digital Camera
Weather: overcast
Light Conditions: poor
Description:        Size of bird: small passerine
(Description:)       Basic Shape: warbler like
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: mostly olive green
(Description:)            Bill Type: long and thin
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Saw an olive green warbler pop up into a small fir on the side of the road. It had a very unique face pattern, that I was unfamiliar with. It had a pale throat,a bold supercilium that went past the eye and then angled slightly downward, and a dark olive cap. When I got back to the car and look through the field guide,I found the only warbler that matched what I saw is a non-breeding 'Eastern' Palm Warbler. I watched it as it hopped from branch to branch for a few minutes,before it disappeared and wouldn't come out to pissing
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery: none heard
Behavior: Perched in a small fir road side,and then fluttered about in low branches for a few minutes
Habitat: Sub-alpine Spruce-Fir forest at 10,400 feet,near a road
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Similar in color to an Orange-crowned Warbler,but they lack a pale throat and supercilium that goes past the eye,also lack a darker cap. MacGilivray's Warbler would have a grayish head and eye arch,but no supercilium or cap,and Yellow Wabler would not have a pale throat,supercillium or darker cap,and a Wilson's Warbler would not have a pale throat or supercilium that goes past the eye.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
none
References consulted: Sibley Guide to North American Birds,2000 D.A. Sibley
Description from: From memory
Observer: Bryant Olsen
Observer's address: 688 East 700 South SLC,UT 84102
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: none
Date prepared: 8-2-2012
Additional material: Photos
Additional_Comments: Photos are of poor quality, but do show the field marks