Who is this little bird? (1 Viewer)

LzyPhotographer

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #1

I saw this little bird and took some pics to see if I could identify it. Of course, I couldn't... dunno what I was thinking, but it sounded like a good idea at the time. ;-)

My first thought was Goldfinch... but the beak looks too long & skinny. Does a beak change as the bird grows? Any ideas? I'd appreciate some education here.

Thanks!

 

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B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Feb 16, 2004

• #2

Looks like Orange-crowned Warbler to me, but is the bill a bit too long for that?

Jason

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Feb 16, 2004

• #3

No, not Orange-crowned, I don't think, no streaking under or hint of wingbars. I'd guess C. Yellowthroat, a terribly non-descript little greenish-yellow unmarked bird in your area. I agree that the bill is amazingly attenuated.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #4

Could it be something like a 1st w female Mourning Wabler.... that might account for the bill..?

In the 3rd pic the head looks like a Tenessee Warbler.. but no wing bars...... do they ever wear off?

This is a challenge!

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Feb 16, 2004

• #5

No, not Tennessee-- the eyeline is always distinct on them, I recall. I like Mourning, though-- that would explain the bluish wash on the outer primaries in the 2nd photo.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #6

I live in fear of finding something like this.. getting 10 minutes on it.. enough to know it a first for the UK... then not clinching it

 

S

streatham

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #7

not convinced on this but i'd say orange-crowned most likely as originally suggested - undertail coverts look right for orange crowned too long tail extension for mourning not 'forked' enough tail for macgillivrays also extension looks too long. The question over the bill? The sordida Orange-Crowned found on the SoCal Islands has a longer bill than other orange crowns.

 

S

streatham

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #8

that said it is almost nothing like the orange crowned hee in the east. The orange crowned is the most common bird if you took it locally - mourning very unlikely - macgillivrays a possibility. a date and location for where you took it would help.

 

C

Chaiyan

Well-known member

• Feb 16, 2004

• #9

I agree for ID of orange-crowned warbler.

Its long sharply pointed bill places this bird in Vermivora genus, with such plumage colors/pattern (black eyestripe & incomlpete white eyering, Tennessee is possible but ruled out by prominent yellow undertail coverts. None of US Oporornis warblers has such obvious black eyestripe, esp post-ocular area.

Western orange-crown tend to be richer in yellow than their eastern ones. And lack of streaking on underparts (esp flank and undertail coverts) of this bird, I would think it's of lutescens race, rather than sordida race.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Feb 17, 2004

• #10

I bow to the Honorable Member from Ames. I wouldn't know a lutescens from a sordida if they were sitting each side of me on the bus...

 

LzyPhotographer

Well-known member

• Feb 17, 2004

• #11

Wow! Thanks everyone. It's so nice how you all share your information and thoughts. I'm learning a lot, and may have to start keeping a list.

I did check the local Audubon site about the Orange-crowned warbler. They said: "Orange-crowned Warbler: Uncommon to fairly common (increasing?) in riparian, oak, and coniferous woodland (subspecies lutescens). In chaparral and sage scrub, especially in canyons, on Point Loma, at San Elijo and Batiquitos Lagoons, and probably elsewhere along the coast (subspecies sordida). Forages and sings in middle to upper levels of trees but nests usually placed on or near the ground under dense cover. Eggs 26 April - 14 June; watch for fledglings May - July"

The last few sentences are beautiful words for a photographer. ;-) For the record, I was no where near Point Loma, but I was just a short distance away from the Torrey Pines Reserve and Batiquitos Lagoons.

 

Strix

Well-known member

• Feb 17, 2004

• #12

Looks like Orange-crowned to me, is it missing some face feathers? (That would make it look longer billed too)