help with warbler ID (1 Viewer)

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Jeff,

Nothing so special, I just used a couple of American field guides. I've never seen Blue-winged before, but have seen several other American warblers on my two visits to the US (not New England, out west, MO to CA). I guess that knowing feather tracts and the sort of things that it is important to look at helps. And Blue-winged is fairly easy to identify, there's others that are much harder

Michael

 

[Jane Turner]

A lot of us Brits get excted about the possibility of finding New World warblers over here... so mug up on the ID features!

 

[HH75]

Hi Michael,
The only thing bothering me about this bird being a Blue-winged Warbler is the apparent absence of white wingbars,otherwise it looks pretty much like one.
Harry

 

[Bluetail]

It does me too, but as I went through Sibley something or other wasn't right for every species in turn, e.g. wings look too dark for fem/juv Yellow Warbler, yellow face is wrong for mourning Warbler etc. I kept coming back to Blue-winged, but I'd sure be interested to hear of alternative possibilities.

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Michael,
The only thing bothering me about this bird being a Blue-winged Warbler is the apparent absence of white wingbars,otherwise it looks pretty much like one.
Harry

Hi Harry,

They are there (enlargement below), tho' not too easy to see bearing in mind that a lot of the coverts seem to be missing, presumably torn out in the accident that killed it. From what I've read, the wingbars can be inconspicuous on females & juveniles (e.g Sibley says "narrow white or yellowish wingbars")

Michael

 

[HH75]

Hi Michael,
True,I see what you mean now.Can't see why it isn't a Blue-winged so,though my lack of familiarity with American wood-warblers in general could mean that I am overlooking other possibilities.Blue-winged is one of the few that I HAVE seen,and the wingbars are fairly obvious on a 1st-w male....
Harry

 

[streatham]

Hi All,

Not really many possibilities for this bird - the only yellowish warblers really present in this part of CT at this time of year are fairly limited: prairie, pine, yellow, blue-winged, c. yellowthroat, hooded are on the range map but very difficult to find. I'd agree on the Blue-winged for what it's worth

Luke

 

[jdibe22686]

big wines?

A lot of us Brits get excted about the possibility of finding New World warblers over here... so mug up on the ID features!

By big wines do you mean Rhones or perhaps Barolo?? I hope not those wimpy Clarets,
or worse Australian.
I can forgive Zinfandels

 

[jdibe22686]

Hi All,

Not really many possibilities for this bird - the only yellowish warblers really present in this part of CT at this time of year are fairly limited: prairie, pine, yellow, blue-winged, c. yellowthroat, hooded are on the range map but very difficult to find. I'd agree on the Blue-winged for what it's worth

Luke

Thanks for your comments Luke, is CT that bad? We are close to NYC
for dinner and theaters.
What town are you in?
Jeff

 

[streatham]

Hi Jeff,

I'm in Wilton - A couple of very good NY birders once told me that CT is just a place you have to drive through to get to better birds in RI and MA. They kind of have a point but there are still some great places to go in my opinion.

Regards Luke

 

[Jane Turner]

By big wines do you mean Rhones or perhaps Barolo?? I hope not those wimpy Clarets,
or worse Australian.
I can forgive Zinfandels

Barolo would count... better still Amerone! Have a real weakness for in your face Chilean Cabernets!

 

[jdibe22686]

Barolo would count... better still Amerone! Have a real weakness for in your face Chilean Cabernets!

I have never had a Chilean Cab, though there are plenty around, could you recommend one?
Jeff

 

[jdibe22686]

Hi Jeff,

I'm in Wilton - A couple of very good NY birders once told me that CT is just a place you have to drive through to get to better birds in RI and MA. They kind of have a point but there are still some great places to go in my opinion.

Regards Luke

...and your favorite places are?

 

[streatham]

Hi Jeff,

This time of year (shorebird migration) Sandy Point in West Haven is great - good birds and the ability to walk along the spit and get close to them instead of sitting miles away with a scope. Milford Point can be good but that is more of a sitting with a scope place. Hammonasset SP - good any time of the year. Closer to home Stratford - various sites around Great Meadows Marsh (the airport there can be good for Upland Sandpiper) although the parking there stinks. Sherwood Island SP in Westport can be good although gets very busy on nice days.

Hope that's a start - Luke

 

[jdibe22686]

Hi Jeff,

This time of year (shorebird migration) Sandy Point in West Haven is great - good birds and the ability to walk along the spit and get close to them instead of sitting miles away with a scope. Milford Point can be good but that is more of a sitting with a scope place. Hammonasset SP - good any time of the year. Closer to home Stratford - various sites around Great Meadows Marsh (the airport there can be good for Upland Sandpiper) although the parking there stinks. Sherwood Island SP in Westport can be good although gets very busy on nice days.

Hope that's a start - Luke

Thanks, I have birded all those places except West Haven and I grew up there! Ironic I guess. Do you miss home (GB)?

 

[John N Murphy]

Hi All.

Harry, the least you can do is reply to Micheal and say ya or na.

Regards and best wishes,

Murf.

 

[streatham]

Hi Jeff,

Sandy Point is worth the trip - probably my favourite spot for shorebirds. I'll have a think about land birds and post my thoughts on those too. Not missing the UK too much although I like to get back so I don't feel too removed from family, friends.

Luke

 

[godwit]

I think the pale legs, pale fringes to the tertials (just visible on the far wing in one pic), diffuse tail pattern and yellowish rather than white undertail coverts means that this is an adult female Yellow Warbler.

Dave

 

[Jane Turner]

Barolo would count... better still Amerone! Have a real weakness for in your face Chilean Cabernets!

Try Manso de Velasco (Miguel Torres) its a corker and fairly widely available or if you want REALLY big.. Valdeviso's Caballo Loco! I suspect this would keep forever.. I just have a inability not to drink it!

 

[Bluetail]

I think the pale legs, pale fringes to the tertials (just visible on the far wing in one pic), diffuse tail pattern and yellowish rather than white undertail coverts means that this is an adult female Yellow Warbler.

Dave

The main problem with Yellow Warbler is that it doesn't have a pale bill. And aren't the wings far too dark in the second pic?