Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina), Sun City Grand, Maricopa County

This Tennessee Warbler was discovered and photographed by Dominic Sherony on 02 December 2008 in Sun City Grand in Surprise.  Exact directions:  It was in the deciduous trees outside Dillon's Restaurant, which is in Sun City Grand. These are directions. You can reach Sun City Grand from I10 by taking SR 303 (exit about 124) north about 16 miles to Bell Rd. At Bell Red, go right to the first light, Sunrise Blvd, and go left (north). Follow Sunrise north past Clearview Rd to the next stop sign, W. Remington. Turn left onto Remington and follow it to the end and park in the large parking lot. The bird was with other warblers, mostly Orange-crowns and at lest one Yellow-rumped, in the trees to the right of the restaurant.

Tennessee Warbler was one of the more common of the eastern vagrant warblers prior to 1990 with over a hundred reports.  It was even removed from the review list for a time.  Like many other northerly breeding warblers, it has become much rarer recently and was put back on the review list.  There are fewer than 10 accepted records since 2000. 

Note the whitish undertail coverts, short tail and lack of streaking which separate this species from Orange-crowned Warbler.

02 December 2008, photo by Dominic Sherony

All photographs copyright© by the photographer.