ML189446671

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We first heard the high-pitched and somewhat squeaky calls given by an unseen bird from the riparian corridor maybe a third of the way down to the river mouth. With some effort we eventually coaxed this bird into view and then studied it for a short time and took photos before it moved off. The calls were distinctive in both their high frequency and slightly buzzy quality that we quickly realized sounded correct for this species even before we saw this bird. When seen, this bird remained above us near the top of a scrubby tamarisk This was a conspicuously small passerine even relative to the Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Orange-crowned Warblers that were seen at the same time. The bill was short, slim, and tapering little to a pointed tip. The forehead was sloping and the crown was rounded on a head that seemed large in proportion to the body, with this appearance accentuated by a neck that was short and stocky, and a body that was notably plump despite its small size. I thought the tail was of medium-length and with a weakly notched tip, but I failed to note the primary projection of the length of the wings. This bird’s overall patterns were like those of the more plentiful Ruby-crowned Kinglets, yet the head pattern was quite different. Extending down the center of the forehead and crown was a bright yellow stripe that when seen well also had a little sliver of red in the center. The yellow crown was framed on either side by black lateral crown-stripes that were in turn demarcated by white supercilia that extended through the supraloral region, over the eye, and back along the upper edge of the auriculars. Further apparent was a blackish line that connected the bill with the leading edge of the eye from which a moustachial-stripe of the same color extended downward and backward a short way before ending abruptly. I also thought there was a dark postocular-stripe or mask, but my recollection of this is not as clear as that of the rest of the face pattern. The lower part of the face, and the entire underparts, from the throat down across the breast, belly, sides, and flanks were a dingy whitish to light grayish in color. I cannot now remember seeing clearly the undertail coverts or the underside of the tail, but it is possible they may be visible in my photos. Given that this bird was above us, it had a harder time seeing the upperparts than the underparts, but I did see what appeared to be olive upperparts and boldly marked wings that had some indication of pale wingbars combined with what seemed to be a blackish bar below the lower wingbar that was not unlike that of the other kinglets. Finally, the remiges had greenish or yellowish edges that gave the rear part of the wing a finely striped appearance. I either failed to see or cannot now remember seeing the wingtips, rump, or upperside of the tail The bill appeared to be black, and the eyes were dark, but I cannot remember noting the color of the legs or feet.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

800

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

2693 pixels x 1755 pixels

Original file size

4.17 MB