Bird ID - Trinidad (1 Viewer)

Dabs · Feb 19, 2018

I will appreciate assistance with the ID of the bird in the attached photos, which I assume to be a Warbler.

Location : - Gran Couva, Trinidad
Date:- 18th February 2018
Time:- approx 9.30am
Size:- Between 12cm - 14cm (estimated)

Thanks

Brian D'Abreau

Andy Adcock · Feb 19, 2018

Vireo, Philadelphia?

A

birdmeister · Feb 19, 2018

One of the warblers. I'd go for Prairie (face pattern looks good, flank streaking visible on last pic), but it's awfully drab for a Prairie.

Andy Adcock · Feb 19, 2018

birdmeister said:
One of the warblers. I'd go for Prairie (face pattern looks good, flank streaking visible on last pic), but it's awfully drab for a Prairie.

No idea of modern records but up to the publication of the old field guide (Ffrench), there was only one record of Prairie Warbler for Trinidad and no Phil Vireo.

A

Jeff Hopkins · Feb 19, 2018

I was thinking Blackpoll.

birdmeister · Feb 20, 2018

andyadcock said:
No idea of modern records but up to the publication of the old field guide (Ffrench), there was only one record of Prairie Warbler for Trinidad and no Phil Vireo.

A

Hadn't realized that!

I could go with Blackpoll, but the face pattern seems too strong for that.

stuartelsom · Feb 20, 2018

It can only be a warbler, due to the bill and tail pattern and I think Jeff has nailed it. The long undertail coverts give a short-tailed appearance (pic 1). The white tail spots are just visible too. Some of the other images suggest quite a dark bird and give an almost Cerulean feel to the bird (which also appears short-tailed), but the facial markings appear too prominent for CerWa, so Blackpoll certainly seems the most likely. A couple of shots show an almost triangular cheek patch, so a very dull Blackburnian could also be worthy of consideration, although it is still a rare vagrant, unlike Blackpoll.

Jeff Hopkins · Feb 20, 2018

I also went through the list of warblers in Trinidad, and Blackpoll is the only regular visitor that fits. Anything else close would be a rare vagrant.

Andy Adcock · Feb 20, 2018

Jeff hopkins said:
I also went through the list of warblers in Trinidad, and Blackpoll is the only regular visitor that fits. Anything else close would be a rare vagrant.

I also went through the old book and eliminated everything, especially Blackpoll on that face pattern?

A

Motmot · Feb 20, 2018

It looks a female type Cerulean to me, can't see anything wrong for it. Worth reporting I think.

Kratter · Feb 20, 2018

Motmot said:
It looks a female type Cerulean to me, can't see anything wrong for it. Worth reporting I think.

I agree. The legs/feet appear dark, which are orangish in Blackpoll. The broad white supercilium with dark face is better for Cerulean, whereas Blackpoll has a distinct dark eyeline.

Andy

Andy Adcock · Feb 20, 2018

Caerulean isn't in the old book at all so this would be a very rare bird in Trinidad.

An extract from the 2015 Trinidad-Tobago report

'A frst-winter plumaged male Cerulean Warbler,
Setophaga cerulean was photographed at Flagstaff Hill,
Tobago on 25 October (FA) (see plate). This is the frst
documented sighting for Tobago and only the third for
Trinidad and Tobago. The world population of this migrant
warbler is declining at a rapid rate, due to its winter habitat in the northern Andes dwindling. It is cited as “possibly
threatened or endangered” '

Unless there has been another in the last two years, it would be a 4th record for the Islands and a 3rd for Trinidad.

A

Dabs · Feb 21, 2018

Thanks all for the feedback.

It is a pity that the back lighting was pretty bad when these photos were taken. Better photos may have allowed for more conclusive ID.

Regards,

Brian

rka · Feb 21, 2018

I was on the same outing when these photos were taken. We positively identified both Blackpoll and Blackburnian warblers close by. I have brightened the pictures. No sign of yellow-orange legs.

Note the dark area below the eye which sweeps back to a larger dark area starting at the back of the eye.

My guess is Blackburnian first and possible Bay-breasted as a second option (which has also been recorded in Trinidad recently).

Jeff hopkins said:
I also went through the list of warblers in Trinidad, and Blackpollthe en is the only regular visitor that fits. Anything else close would be a rare vagrant.

Kratter · Feb 21, 2018

Blackburnian has white "braces" on a streaky back in all plumages. Bay-breasted has a muted face pattern, quite dissimilar to this bird. I do not see what is off for Cerulean.

Andy

rka · Feb 21, 2018

See the Blackburnians and the Blackpoll taken in the vicinity in the same trip in the attached plates.

rka · Feb 21, 2018

Also for completeness on positive IDs for warblers on the day, a Cape May warbler was photographed by another closeby.

Motmot · Feb 21, 2018

Kratter said:
Blackburnian has white "braces" on a streaky back in all plumages. Bay-breasted has a muted face pattern, quite dissimilar to this bird. I do not see what is off for Cerulean.

Andy

Neither do I

rka · Feb 21, 2018

What a record for Trinidad it would be if it is a Cerulean! Looking at the guides it certainly is the best visual match, especially the facial features.

DABs, did you notice any bluish hue on the bird?

Kratter said:
Blackburnian has white "braces" on a streaky back in all plumages. Bay-breasted has a muted face pattern, quite dissimilar to this bird. I do not see what is off for Cerulean.

Andy

bugmat · Feb 21, 2018

rka said:
Also for completeness on positive IDs for warblers on the day, a Cape May warbler was photographed by another closeby.

Not quite sure on this one RKA - could have been a NWT which none of us considered due to how high the bird was!

But yes I was on the trip and also thought Blackburnian when I saw DABS photos, but based on comments here, and the fact that CW has been seen in the past few years (most recent was in Tobago a year or two ago) then it's quite possible and would be a stunning find!

Bird ID - Trinidad (1 Viewer)

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