Shorebird ID help, and a few warblers - Florida (2 Viewers)

[Zackiedawg]

Big weekend, out shooting Friday and Saturday, with migration increasing through Florida and a lot of species spotted and photographed, including some first-timers. Out of the hundreds of shots of dozens of species, a few have me a bit confused...and it's the two usually guilty parties - shorebirds and warblers - that I have the most difficulty with!! On the shorebirds, I struggle to spot the differences between solitary sandpipers and lesser yellowlegs, which often occur in the same areas together. So any IDs to verify the following would be appreciated!

1. This one is tough - I believe it to be a female, but of what I'm not sure. I thought maybe indigo bunting, but it looked a bit large. I did spot for the first time a male blue grosbeak (I think) in the same area, so maybe this is a female grosbeak?:

http://g4.img-dpreview.com/EFB7E0A9EF2447B79425AA72B11B9C7B.jpg

2. This one was creeping high through the tree canopy, and this was the best shot I could get of him...though I can't make out the color real well in the backlighting, I was thinking maybe a pine warbler?

http://g2.img-dpreview.com/9297582831B1467DAC8E599F47BBBFC0.jpg

3. The catbird on the right was having a chase fight with a small yellowish warbler who was fighting right back at him - this shot of him on the left was the best I could make out - the bit of black masking on the face has me thinking possibly a common yellowthroat, though this one was far from the water where I usually see them:

http://g1.img-dpreview.com/0EDBA618118F4DC2B3A7119C7FC18DE4.jpg

4. Just to verify - I was pretty sure after looking this one up that it is a male blue grosbeak - the black around the beak and over the eye and the brownish wingbars seem pretty strong indicators:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452552/original

5. Here we go with the shorebirds - I was thinking solitary sandpiper initially, but those lesser yellowlegs seem a possibility too. There were dozens of these birds all scattered together in one area, along with some I could identify like least sandpipers, wilson's snipe, and black-necked stilts:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452520/original

6. another...

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452521/original

7. another...

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452522/original

8. Another, this one from the second day of shooting:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452564/original

9. And another...

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/149452567/original

Thank you for any help provided and any IDs given!

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

the waders are all Solitary Sand, bar the last which is Lesser Yellowlegs

 

[Trystan]

the waders are all Solitary Sand, bar the last which is Lesser Yellowlegs

Agree, and your ID of yellowthroat and male blue grosbeak (3 & 4) are correct. I think you are right on 2, and I'll leave 1 to somebody else.

 

[stonechat1]

Agree with male Common Yellowthroat in photo #3, Justin. #4 Blue Grosbeak is also correct. #1 has brighter legs as the Blue Grosbeak and reminds me on juv. Painted Bunting. And a suggestion for the warbler: Yellow-throated Warbler; though I´m not familiar with them.

 

[Zackiedawg]

Thank you both. Hopefully someone can ID #1. Appreciate the confirm on 3 & 4, and the confidence vote on #2.

Stuart, if you don't mind me asking - what are the giveaways that help you ID the last one as a yellowlegs? I would like to learn how to identify the differences between them.

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

Thank you both. Hopefully someone can ID #1. Appreciate the confirm on 3 & 4, and the confidence vote on #2.

Stuart, if you don't mind me asking - what are the giveaways that help you ID the last one as a yellowlegs? I would like to learn how to identify the differences between them.

the Yellowlegs has longer more graceful yellow legs, looks a more slender bird in general and is lighter in shade on its back (the Solitaries look quite dark). It has a slightly longer bill and also the white eye ring is far less prominent on the Yellowlegs.

Hope that helps - sure someone can give you a more technical answer, but these tips should help in the field.

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

some of the pics are fantastic by the way - love number 6

 

[Zackiedawg]

Thank you so much - that does help. I just need a few key things to look for - the longer bill and lighter back will help - and the eye ring being less prominent. I'm sure I'll still flub them at times, but this will help me get them more often correct.

I'm still hoping someone can help with #1, and maybe a second opinion on #2. #2 is not likely a yellow-throated, as those I am pretty familiar with around my house. #1 looked a little too brown/beige/buff for painted bunting - juvies and females are usually more greenish in color...this one really didn't show any green in person...and there even looked to be some faint darkish color along the wing that I thought might have had a hint of blue...if not painted bunting, maybe a juvie or female indigo?

 

[jmepler]

Female Indigo Bunting was my first thought on #1.

I am not convinced that #2 is a Pine Warbler.

Mike

 

[ovenbird43]

Agreed on Indigo Bunting for #1. Shape and plumage look good, the bill is too thin for Blue Grosbeak.

I'm having trouble with the warbler, Pine seems possible, and I don't have any better suggestions.

 

[Zackiedawg]

Many thanks - I'll go with indigo bunting on #1 for now, unless someone comes up with a convincing ID that refutes it. Appreciate the help.

I guess I'll stick with pine warbler as well for #2 - it really was vexing me as well, so I'm glad to know at least some other birders are having similar doubts. The only thing guiding me to pine warbler was that there appears to be a hint of the wing bars - the colors don't seem very yellow, but it could be juvie or transitional color.

 

[Matt Slaymaker]

Pine Warbler for sure

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

I agree that it looks good for a female Pine Warbler, which show the same subtle face pattern and white wing bars.

 

[Zackiedawg]

Thank you both - that puts my mind to rest on it - I was thinking it was, and I think enough support so far agreeing with pine warbler gives me the answer!

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

I'll put in another vote for indigo bunting for #1 and by default (they can be pretty variable) pine warbler for #2.