Southwest Warblers Part 3: Lucy's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler, San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area, Sierra Vista, AZ, 4/9/2012.

Continuing my weekend series on Warblers from the Southwest, I was very happy to locate my first Lucy's Warblers (Above).  I saw at least two different Lucy's while birding in the San Pedro Riparian NCA during my 2012 Springbreak.  To tell you the truth, when I was photographing these pretty little guys (only 4.25" long), I didn't recognize them and had to refer to my Sibley's Field Guide to Birds of Western North America to make the identification. 
Lucy's Warblers are not a very commonly found bird, but for the best possibility of locating them, look along streams (such as the san Pedro River where I found them) in the dense brush.

Lucy's Warbler, San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area, Sierra Vista, AZ, 4/9/2012.

Lucy's Warblers are a pale bluish gray with a white eye line and undertail coverts. Another good field mark is their rufous cap and rump, which is very evident in the photo (Above).

Lucy's Warbler, San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area, Sierra Vista, AZ, 4/9/2012.

Lucy's Warblers summer range is quite small, but can be found in southern Arizona and slightly spreading across the borders into California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Mexico.