Warblers, Northern Virginia, US (October 1, 2023) (1 Viewer)

[howiewu]

Hi, I took these in Norther Virginia -- lousy picture, which is why I am asking here. My guesses --

1. The angle is awkward, but I think I can see white wing bars and a black eye line and some rusty wash on the flanks -- Bay-breasted Warbler?
2. A bit stumped, prominent wing bars, and overall very yellow; unfortunately its face turned the other way, but from what I can see, there does not seem to be a lot of facial marking. I almost wanted to say Blackpoll, but feet color isn't right. Pine Warbler, maybe?
3. Also stumped, it seems to be very drab, with prominent white wing bars, ???

Thanks in advance,
Howard

 

[birdmeister]

All three look like Bay-breasted/Blackpoll to me. Like you suggested, I lean towards Bay-breasted for the first one given the warmer underpart color with no streaking. Conversely, I would tend towards Blackpoll for the other two, given heavier streaking and a stronger olive green cast. It can be a tricky species pair, though, and I'm not 100% sure with these photos!

 

[tom baxter]

All three look like Bay-breasted/Blackpoll to me. Like you suggested, I lean towards Bay-breasted for the first one given the warmer underpart color with no streaking. Conversely, I would tend towards Blackpoll for the other two, given heavier streaking and a stronger olive green cast. It can be a tricky species pair, though, and I'm not 100% sure with these photos!

Agree with all of this. #2 is quite difficult to differentiate the two candidate species. I wouldn't want to say either way on that one. But, #1 looks like Bay-breasted and #3 looks like Blackpoll.

 

[rkj]

I believe the dark feet eliminate Blackpoll Warbler as a possibility for #2.

 

[tom baxter]

I believe the dark feet eliminate Blackpoll Warbler as a possibility for #2.

It has been my understanding that Blackpoll does not always have yellow feet, although they usually do.

 

[qwerty5]

It has been my understanding that Blackpoll does not always have yellow feet, although they usually do.

According to Kaufmann, all Blackpolls at least have the soles of their feet yellow, but we can't see that here.

Also, I think I see the undertail coverts contrasting with the belly on #2, which is a mark for Blackpoll

 

[A2GG]

The first could be Bay-breasted. The last bird can't be a Bay-breasted due to the streaking on the sides of the breast.
Not sure about the second bird. That's the best I can do.

 

[Kurt G]

Hi, I took these in Norther Virginia -- lousy picture, which is why I am asking here. My guesses --

1. The angle is awkward, but I think I can see white wing bars and a black eye line and some rusty wash on the flanks -- Bay-breasted Warbler?
2. A bit stumped, prominent wing bars, and overall very yellow; unfortunately its face turned the other way, but from what I can see, there does not seem to be a lot of facial marking. I almost wanted to say Blackpoll, but feet color isn't right. Pine Warbler, maybe?
3. Also stumped, it seems to be very drab, with prominent white wing bars, ???

Thanks in advance,
Howard

Howard,

The first is a Bay-breasted - no streaks on breast/flanks and warm color on flanks. The third is a Blackpoll due to the streaks on a mainly white breast/flanks. The second photo is a not so good (although there is a suggestion of streaks on the flanks) so one can be safe and call it a Baypoll.

Kurt

 

[THE_FERN]

Howard,

The first is a Bay-breasted - no streaks on breast/flanks and warm color on flanks. The third is a Blackpoll due to the streaks on a mainly white breast/flanks. The second photo is a not so good (although there is a suggestion of streaks on the flanks) so one can be safe and call it a Baypoll.

Kurt

Yes I think the apparent streaks on 2 may be just the way the feathers are lying/light shining and not actual streaks. If so, I think that makes it better for bay-breasted.

 

[howiewu]

Thanks for the discussion!

 

[Owen Krout]

Thanks from Northeast Tennessee also! Saved my posting almost identical photos taken here today. Sounds like mine were Bay-breasted