[Birdtalk] ID request

[Mark Stackhouse]

It may be my monitor, but I don't see enough green on this bird to be  
a Chestnut-sided. And CSWA shouldn't have any streaking of the type  
and color seen on the flanks of this bird. I agree that the face looks  
much more like CSWA than Blackpoll, but I did see some images of  
Blackpoll on Vireo that weren't too far from this bird, especially  
when you consider the angle of the head in these photos, that makes  
the facial details harder to see clearly.

However, this bird has enough anomalies that I strongly considered a  
hybrid (though I didn't mention it in my first post), and I'm inclined  
to agree with Brandon Percival that hybrid may be the best call for  
this bird. I'm always reluctant to play the "hybrid" card on tough  
id's, unless it's something that clearly shows contradictory  
characteristics. And if this is a hybrid, the next question is of what  
species? I can't find any records in the literature of CSWA x BLPW,  
but since they're in they same genus, it would seem possible.

In any event, there's no doubt that this bird does not have a clear,  
straightforward i.d.

Mark Stackhouse

On Sep 30, 2008, at 12:57 PM, Craig Fosdick wrote:

> All-
>
> Hmmm....I don't think it is a Blackpoll; I just saw about 10 in  
> upstate NY 10-14 days ago (along with CSWA and others), and the  
> white eye ring is way too pronounced on this bird to be a  
> Blackpoll.  Also, Blackpolls have dark eyestripes with thin  
> eyerings; this bird has no eyestripe.  Can't say anything conlcusive  
> about the streaking; some fall male CSWA should have solid chestnut  
> streaks; perhaps this is a first-year male?  (my Peterson warbler  
> guide is not at hand).  Also, Blackpolls should have black bills,  
> not pale bills; this bird has a pale bill.  And whitish undertail  
> coverts are consisent with CSWA.  Blackpolls also are much drabber,  
> even on the face, and should not be bright lime-green on face and  
> back.  Legs appear to be mostly concealed by foliage, I'm struggling  
> with the color on this.  Fall male CSWA do have streaks on the back,  
> which this bird has.
>
> I vote CSWA, for whatever it's worth.  Perhaps someone can relocate  
> the bird and get better/more looks/photos?
>
> Craig Fosdick
> Logan, Utah.
>
> On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 12:21 PM, Mark Stackhouse  
> <westwings at sisna.com> wrote:
> This is a pretty "confusing" fall warbler.
>
> The plain face and complete eye-ring suggest Chestnut-sided, but it  
> doesn't look green enough on the back, or (perhaps more importantly  
> since the back isn't as clearly seen or well lit in these photos)  
> the underparts clear and unstreaked enough. Chestnut-sided should  
> not have the streaking on the flanks that this bird has.
>
> Bay-breasted is another possibility, but it should be a bit warmer  
> on the flanks, and again the sides should be less streaked. Also,  
> the under-tail coverts should be more buffy; these appear to me to  
> be whitish.
>
> I'm leaning towards Blackpoll Warbler. Blackpoll has streaking on  
> the flanks like this bird shows. The under-tail coverts appear  
> whitish. Also, the legs and feet appear pale or yellowish to me in  
> the second photo, good for Blackpoll, but the others should have  
> black legs. The face seems plain for Blackpoll, but I think it's  
> within the range of variation for this species.
>
> Nice photos (warbler photos are never easy) of a great find.
>
> Mark Stackhouse
>
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2008, at 6:51 AM, Milt Moody wrote:
>
> Carol Gwynn sent in these pictures of a bird at Red Butte Gardens in  
> SLC and would like some opinions on its ID.  ~ MGM
>
> http://www.utahbirds.org/hotlinephotos/2008/MysteryBirdCG.htm
>
>
>
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