The Swainson’s Warbler is a breeder in the southeastern United States that occasionally shows up in Pennsylvania. In total, 6 individuals have been banded at Powdermill, with 2 of those occurring in 2010.
Swainson's Warbler, is a southeastern US and southern Appalachian species whose breeding range is not presently known to extend north into Pennsylvania.
Before the two individuals banded in 2010, our previous SWWAs were all caught in mid-May in the years 1985, 1989, and 1992, and 2001.
One of these (the bird banded in 1989) remained and sang persistently for two weeks during which time it was recaptured twice.
Over the years, there have been several other records of persistent singing males of this species in our region, and it would seem to be only a matter of time before one of these presumed "overshoot" migrant males succeeds in attracting a mate and providing the first Pennsylvania nesting record for the species.