American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (0, 9)

Photo © Kris Webb

STATUS

Canada south to Mexico. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

This species has arrived in late August three times which is quite early for Nearctic Parulidae. Only one individual has made it to mainland Britain.

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1). 1964 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, first-year male, trapped, 29th August, died 30th August, S. a. aestiva.

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 58: 369; G. H. Evans, British Birds 58: 457-461; M. A. Heimerdinger & K. C. Parkes, British Birds 59: 315-316; C. G. Bennett, R. Harrison, L. G. Brook, J. C. Hillmer, J. G. Brown, L. P. Samuels, S. Dobson, J. G. Scourfield, H. G. Hancox & K. G. Spencer, British Birds 59: 316-317; W. Eifion Jones, British Birds 59: 317; G. Evans, Bardsey Observatory Report 1964: 50-52; BOURC (1971), Ibis 113: 144; BOURC (1997), Ibis 139: 199).

2). 1990 Shetland Helendale, Mainland, age/sex uncertain, 3rd to 4th November, photo, S. a. aestiva.

(D. Suddaby, Birding World 3: 381-382, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 500, plate 97; Birding World 6 (4): 157, photo; Shetland Bird Report 1990: photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 530; BOURC (1997), Ibis 139: 199; Birding Scotland 8: plate 116).

3). 1992 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, trapped, 24th August, S. a. aestiva.

(Birding World 5 (8): 292, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 530; BOURC (1997), Ibis 139: 199).

4). 2004 Outer Hebrides Brevig, Barra, first-winter, 2nd to 7th October, photo.

(S. L. Rivers, Birding World 17 (10): 435-436, plates 1-3; Birding World 17 (12): 523, photo; British Birds 97: plate 396; S. L. Rivers, Birding Scotland 7 (4): 195-198, plates 210-214; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 687, plate 442).

5). 2005 Shetland Garths Ness, Quendale, Mainland, first-winter male, 15th to 17th September, photo.

(M. Mellor, Birding World 18 (9): 378-379, plates 1-3; Birding World 18 (12): 513, photo; British Birds 98: plate 409; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 98, plate 36; Shetland Bird Report 2005: photos; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo; British Birds 101: plate 235).

6). 2017 Dorset Culverwell, Portland, 1CY, 21st August, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 615, plate 403).

7). 2023 Shetland Ham, Foula, 1CY, 5th to 11th September, photo.

(D. Atherton, D. Jardine, T. De Clermont & J. Dickson, Scottish Birds 43: 374-377, plates 321 & 322; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 732).

8). 2023 Argyll Kilmoluaig, Loch Bhasapol, Tiree, 1CY, male, 30th September to 3rd October, photo.

(D. Atherton, D. Jardine, T. De Clermont & J. Dickson, Scottish Birds 43: 374-377, plate 323; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 732).

9). 2023 Shetland Hoswick, Mainland, 1CY, male, 12th to 23rd October, photo.

(British Birds 117: plate 233; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 732, plate 498).