Grace's Warbler (Dendroica graciae), Mesa, Maricopa County

This Grace's Warbler was discovered and photographed by Jay Miller on 21 August 2009 in his backyard in Mesa at approximately 380 m (1250 feet) elevation.

Grace's Warbler is one of a suite of highland breeding species that are only very rarely detected in the lowlands during migration. Other species with a similar pattern include Cordilleran Flycatcher, Red-faced Warbler and Painted Redstart. Monson & Philips (1981) list only 7 lowland records through 1980 of Grace's Warbler.

Yellow-throated Warbler is the only likely confusion species. The broad yellow eyeline and gray face blending with the gray back separate Grace's from Yellow-throated Warbler which has a different face pattern.

21 August 2009, photo by Jay Miller

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