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What is this? Moab, UT USA (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Katemail13
- Start date
When was the photo taken? In the last few days?
Katemail13
Southeastern Utah, USA
Motmot - I think you may be right! That would be a new lifer for me. Thanks.
Fugl - It was taken this morning. Sorry for not including the date!
Katie
Fugl - It was taken this morning. Sorry for not including the date!
Katie
Checking on eBird, there are no records of Black-throated Gray Warbler in Utah or bordering states (Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada) from the first half of March. And there are no Utah records until the beginning of April. There also seems to be a lot of black along the sides and end of the tail for a Black-throated Gray Warbler. It is not a perfect fit, but I think Yellow-rumped Warbler is a possibility here. It would also be MUCH more likely at this time of year.
Unless there are more photos, I think I would leave this one unidentified.
Best,
Jim
Unless there are more photos, I think I would leave this one unidentified.
Best,
Jim
Just to clarify for the original poster, it should be noted that "Myrtle Warbler" is a subspecies of "Yellow-rumped Warbler".
Not impossible, but it would be outside of its normal range as well as an unusual time of year. (EBird has no records of Black-and-white Warbler for March in the states I checked).
Best,
Jim
Not impossible, but it would be outside of its normal range as well as an unusual time of year. (EBird has no records of Black-and-white Warbler for March in the states I checked).
Best,
Jim
Motmot
Eduardo Amengual
The tail design can change depending on images. Black-throateds may show a fairly similar tail design. Compare them with the third image, a Myrtle:
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Black-throatedGreyWarbler(PM).jpg
http://vancouverislandbirds.com/amay0804btgwarbler7516.jpg
http://www.butler-bremer.com/web/kladage/Yellow-rumped Warbler (31046).jpg
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Black-throatedGreyWarbler(PM).jpg
http://vancouverislandbirds.com/amay0804btgwarbler7516.jpg
http://www.butler-bremer.com/web/kladage/Yellow-rumped Warbler (31046).jpg
Motmot
Eduardo Amengual
Afaik utcs/crissum should be clearly spotted black on B&W warblers.
Katemail13
Southeastern Utah, USA
Do any of you know a good website that shows pictures of the undersides of warblers?
I know we have Audubon's yellow-rumped warblers at this time of year, because I saw one last year in mid-march. I just am not sure how to differentiate, and my bird book (National Geographic Society 'Field Guide to the Birds of North America' first edition...yes, I know...it's almost as old as I am) is hopelessly out of date.
Also, can anyone recommend a new bird book?
I really do appreciate all the discussion and help!
Katie
I know we have Audubon's yellow-rumped warblers at this time of year, because I saw one last year in mid-march. I just am not sure how to differentiate, and my bird book (National Geographic Society 'Field Guide to the Birds of North America' first edition...yes, I know...it's almost as old as I am) is hopelessly out of date.
Also, can anyone recommend a new bird book?
I really do appreciate all the discussion and help!
Katie
Hi Katie,
Field guides have evolved considerably since 1981. And there are a lot of choices. A number of field guides are now designed more as reference works to be used at home. I think there has been a realization that not everything you need to know to identify a bird can be condensed into a compact format. Here are some suggestions:
For reference at home: "The Sibley Guide to Birds" is the state-of-the-art in my opinion in the opinion of many. I do not take any other single book has as much information about how to identify birds. Its only drawback is that it is short on textual explanation and instead emphasizes paintings and diagrams. To make up for the lack of textual explanation as well as get a lot of great ID tips, I recommend combining the Sibley guide with Pete Dunne's "Essential Field Guide Companion". (If you want just one book you might look at the new Peterson guide; National Geographic also has a new guide together with a more elaborate companion guide, or the more compact guides mentioned below.)
For reference in the field: there are compact regional Sibley guides for East and West. This is what I carry in the field now. Many also like the Kauffman guide, which is compact and covers all birds in the US and Canada.
If you want more info, this site has a great discussion of field guide options: http://www.birderslibrary.com/category/reviews/books/
Hope this helps,
Jim
PS: I do not know of any website with the chart you're looking for. The only book I have with that chart is my dedicated Warbler guide, in the Peterson Field guide series.
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cavan wood
Well-known member
The tail pattern and other markings fit perfectly for yellow-rumped warber and so does the season for this locality. The other suggestions are not impossible, just improbable.
Scott
Scott
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
Katiemail:
I am a staunch supporter of the holy church of NatGeo. Hearken ye not unto the infidel! :C (If ye must have a new guide, go forth unto a bookshop, and update thyself unto the current edition!)
On a more serious note, there are some really good books just on warblers, and I own a couple of those.
The one that I think you would really find useful is Warblers by Dunn & Garrett, which is in the Peterson Field Guides series. This has really good plates of all the NA species, showing each one in practically all possible plumages. It even includes two pages that compare under-tail views of all the species covered - just what the doctor ordered! The text is even better than the pictures, having very detailed range information, and a very useful "similar species" paragraph for each bird.
That's my vote for the must practical, useful warbler book; but I also have a sentimental favourite, which is Warblers of the Americas, by Beadle, Curson and Quinn. Doesn't display so many views of different plumages, and is not particularly portable, but it has one big advantage over Dunn & Garratt - it covers all members of the family, not just those that occur North of the Rio Grande. And some of the plates are true works of art. A great book just to browse through (and dream...)
Cheers,
Peter C.
Though I made the first post in the thread suggesting Yellow-rumped, and still think that is most likely, I just wanted to note that it is a good, but not a perfect fit with the Dunn & Garrett (Peterson) chart IMO. That chart shows the black edges of the sides of the tail becoming thicker and curving around the V-shaped undertail coverts away from the tail tip--in both Myrtle & Audubon's. I don't see that here. Could just be a matter of feather placement, angle, or just variation. But just wanted to explain why I said previously that it was not a perfect fit.
Jim
Jim
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