Fun Palm Warbler Facts For Kids

Divya Raghav
Nov 18, 2022 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Fact-checked by Abdulqudus Mojeed
Read more to find out about the dull brown-olive colored Palm Warbler facts!
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.4 Min

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) or the Western Palm Warbler song birds are small but more significant than most warblers and have a more rounded belly. Their stance is more upright than that of a traditional warbler, more akin to that of a pipit, which is particularly apparent when they're on the grass.

The Western Palm Warbler has tails and legs that are longer than those of other warblers, giving them a pipit-like appearance.

Typically seen low or on the grass, this bird likes thickets and open areas. The birds in the easternmost region of the range ('Yellow Palm Warbler') are brightly colored, but the majority of the birds are dull; nonetheless, they can be identified by the frequent bobbing of their tails.

Females are generally mostly yellow.

The Yellow Palm Warbler appears quite different than the regular western Palm Warbler, and the Yellow Palm Warbler showcase a very vibrant bright yellow color. Many Palm Warblers spend their winters in the southeastern United States, especially in Florida, where they can be seen near palm groves but not in the palms.

The Western Palm Warbler Setophaga Palmarum nests mimic an open cup and are typically located on or above the ground in an open field. Unlike most warblers, palm Warblers forage on the ground, and they will sometimes fly around to capture insects.

Insects and berries are the primary foods of these species. Their continuous tail bobbing is a defining attribute. The only Setophaga animals that continuously bob their tails are Kirtland's, prairie, and Palm Warblers.

This bird's song is a repeated buzzy trill. The sound of their call is a sharp 'chek'.

If you find this article interesting, do check out other articles on mockingbird or tawny eagle.

Palm Warbler Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Palm Warbler?

Palm Warblers, also known as Wood Warblers or the Yellow Palm Warblers, are a type of bird.

What class of animal does a Palm Warbler belong to?

The class of animal that the Palm Warbler birds or the Wood Warblers belong to is Aves.

How many Palm Warblers are there in the world?

Exact numbers aren't available on this bird's population, but their conservation status is of Least Concern which shows that they are present in abundance in North America. They also do not face any significant threat from external factors.

Where does a Palm Warbler live?

These North American birds live in forest edges, boreal forests, and plains. They like to occupy open areas.

What is a Palm Warbler's habitat?

Palm Warbler bird or the Wood Warblers use weedy fields, boreal forest, woodland margins, fence banks, and other areas of sparse trees and shrubs during migration and winter. Palm Warbler species prefer open bogs with a wooded perimeter with spruces and tamaracks for breeding.

Sphagnum moss, sedges, or other wet ground plants are preferred as bog cover. Palm Warblers enjoy a range of habitats on their wintering grounds, including open and weedy plains, woodland margins, second-growth, thickets, savannas, and mangroves.

Who do Palm Warblers live with?

This North American bird lives alone except during the breeding season. The young are presumably on their own after 12 days, although this lacks evidence.

How long does a Palm Warbler live?

The Palm Warbler bird can live for up to six years and seven months. Ticks, mites, and Hippoboscid flies are some of the parasites found on Palm Warbler birds' bodies, which may shorten their lives.

How do they reproduce?

Palm Warblers have a monogamous relationship. However, there are two examples of bigamous male birds occasionally seen on the territory with a second female bird.

Palm Warbler species form pairs shortly after migration on the breeding grounds from their previous wintering grounds (during the breeding season), between late April and mid-May, where the male bird sings regularly upon arrival on breeding grounds.

Nest development tends to begin in early to mid-May. The nest is usually found in peat bog Sphagnum at the base of a small conifer on the ground.

Nests at the edges of heath bogs with sparse tall trees and small saplings, as well as thick shrub cover, are among the site's characteristics. The nest is cup-shaped and made up of weed stalks, grass and sedges, bark shards, rootlets, Labrador tea woody roots, and bracken fern.

Just one clutch of four to five eggs is produced each season by the Palm Warbler. Mid-May to late June or mid-July is when the eggs are usually laid.

This species has a 12-day incubation cycle. The male feeds the incubating female during incubation. Both parents feed the young in the nest and after they have fledged at the age of 12 days.

Palm Warblers species (Dendroica Palmarum) are altricial after they hatch and stay in the nest for almost two weeks. Palm Warblers molt into their first simple plumage from juvenile plumage from July to September during fall and winter. Thus, the fall and winter play an essential role in their breeding plumage, termed Palm Warbler Fall Plumage.

What is their conservation status?

Palm Warbler species are tolerant of human activity and can be seen in suburban areas throughout the winter.

The presence of TV towers and other tall buildings is a danger to the Palm Warbler species. One of the most famous victims of tall, illuminated TV towers is the Palm Warbler bird.

For some reason, even though bog runoff and peat mining could damage their habitat, there seems to be no evidence of habitat loss.

Palm Warbler Fun Facts

What do Palm Warblers look like?

Palm Warblers forage the most on the ground when compared to their cousin species

Palm Warblers have a dull brownish-olive coloration on the topside, with yellow under the tail and throat. In motion, the outer edges of their tails glow white. The belly of eastern birds is yellow, while the belly of western birds is white. Nonbreeding birds have a dull brown crown and paler yellow under tails.

How cute are they?

These North American birds are adorable because of their vibrant colors. They are cute, tiny, and energetic birds.

How do they communicate?

They communicate through songs, body postures, and tail movements like most other birds.

How big is a Palm Warbler?

The length of this bird is 4.75.5 in (12-14 cm), and the wingspan is 7.9-8.3 in (20-21cm). This bird is ten times smaller than an average dog.

How fast can a Palm Warbler fly?

They are known to fly at a speed of 25 mph (40k mph).

How much does a Palm Warbler weigh?

The weight of the bird is 0.3-0.5 oz (7-13 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

They do not have any gender-specific names.

What would you call a baby Palm Warbler?

A baby Palm Warbler may be referred to as a 'chick'.

What do they eat?

Beetles, bees, and caterpillars are among the insects that Palm Warblers consume. When available, they eat seeds and berries such as bayberry, sea grape, and hawthorn throughout the winter. They collect most insects on the ground or in low shrubs, but they often catch a few in mid-flight.

Are they dangerous?

They are harmless, and they are used to living in places with human activity.

Would they make a good pet?

They do not make good pets as they are accustomed to live in specific living conditions that are wild.

Did you know...

The Palm Warbler is a warbler but it doesn't look like one.

It loves spending its time walking on the ground and wagging its tail up and down.

The Palm Warbler's call

Male Palm Warblers have a buzzy trill that others equate to that of a Chipping Sparrow. The song they have is made up of four to sixteen buzzy notes that steadily rise in pitch.

The notes have a trilling tone when strung together. Males often sing from the branches of trees and shrubs. They sing in various tones depending upon the occasion, like breeding or migration.

The symbolism of Palm Warblers

These 'wild canaries' brighten people's lives. Yellow Warblers sing their tunes, and people love listening to them. Yellow Warblers reflect the totality of themselves. The joy they give us is one of their aspects of light they bestow upon the world.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds, including hawk or military macaw facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Palm Warbler coloring pages.

Palm Warbler Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Bayberry, sea grape, and hawthorn seeds, beetles, bees, and caterpillars

What Type of Animal were they?

Omnivore

Average Litter Size?

4-5 eggs each season

How Much Did They Weigh?

0.02-0.03 lb (7-13 g)

What habitat Do they Live In?

weedy fields, woodland margins, fence paths, boreal forest, and other areas of trees and shrubs

Where Do They Live?

continental divides; across canada and the northeastern and southeastern united states, north america

How Long Were They?

7.9-8.3 in (20-21 cm)

How Tall Were They?

4.7-5.5 in (12-14cm)

Class

Aves

Genus

Setophaga

Family

Parulidae

Scientific Name

Setophaga palmarum

What Do They Look Like?

Brown or bright yellow

Skin Type

Feather

What Are Their Main Threats?

television and mobile towers, and other long structures

What is their Conservation Status?

Least Concern

continental divides; across canada and the northeastern and southeastern united states north america

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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Fact-checked by Abdulqudus Mojeed

Bachelor of Law

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Abdulqudus MojeedBachelor of Law

A versatile professional with a passion for creative writing and technology. Abdulqudus is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Law from the University of Lagos and has experience as a tutor, intern assistant, and volunteer. He possesses strong organizational skills and is a detail-oriented person.

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