Townsend's Warbler ?? (Washington-US) (1 Viewer)

[AEH]

Seen 22/8/2024 in Mt Rainier (Washington)

 

[foresttwitcher]

Looks good for Townsend's (immature female?) to me.

 

[rkj]

The ear patch looks quite weak and the breast pale for a pure Townsend's; I suggest this may be a Townsend's x Hermit Warbler hybrid.

 

[foresttwitcher]

The ear patch looks quite weak and the breast pale for a pure Townsend's; I suggest this may be a Townsend's x Hermit Warbler hybrid.

Thanks rkj, having never seen a Hermit Warbler I did not want to get into the whole hybrid question due to lack of field experience.

 

[AEH]

At first when I saw it in the field, I thought of Hermit W. The photo made me hesitate.... Yes, it may be a hybrid. Thanks

 

[AveryBartels]

It is certainly not a Townsend's at any rate, I won't comment on Hermit vs hybrid though as I'm not familiar enough with Hermits

 

[AEH]

Very interesting. Thank you. I have some more pictures... just in case

 

[AEH]

No more much information... but just in case

 

[KenM]

No more much information... but just in case

FWIW AEH,

During Aug ‘18, I camped just outside Pacific City, (Oregon) where I encountered birds not dissimilar to your images.
Kinda “half way house” between Townsend’s and Hermit (having seen both species on previous visits) and concluded that these were indeed hybrid types.

Cheers

 

[AveryBartels]

No more much information... but just in case

If you're on facebook you could try posting it to the group "Bird hybrids of North America" Log in to Facebook

 

[AEH]

It is definitely a hybrid between HEWA x TOWA. Thank you all very much. Three Hybrid Zones Between Hermit and Townsend's Warblers in Washington and Oregon