ML35834481

Age and sex

Immature Female - X

Observation details

Seen foraging with a small flock of Orange-crowned Warblers and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Noticeably larger than the Orange-crowned Warblers, appeared smaller than the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Overall quite yellow with two gleaming white wing bars. White fringing also visible at the tips of the primaries. Auriculars and crown appeared a consistent color. The yellow coloration of the underparts extends all the way to the vent (which is whitish). Though not diagnostic, it seems that most 1st fall female Pine Warblers should be *much* drabber, though a 1st fall male Pine Warbler is not necessarily out of the question. The amount of streaking in the flanks and belly (visible in all photos) seems much to refined and distinct for what I may expect for a fall Pine Warbler, which may show blurrier distinction, and should be more confined to the flanks. I find it interesting that this bird also shows some fine streaking in the undertail coverts and vent, something I have not seen illustrated in any of the guides I have consulted (so I guess this is a particularly boldly patterned individual).The undertail pattern, which is most clearly visible in photo 2 shows a clear inverted black "v" right where the retrices meet the vent. This black also seems to be thicker on either side of the vent and tapers slightly in width as it comes to the point, which would be more suggestive of Bay-breasted/Blackpoll than Pine (though this may just be the way I am seeing this photo). The black in the outer retrices seems to bulge inward at the corners, perhaps more so than one would expect for a Pine (though the angle of the bird in the photos makes it difficult to interpret this). Structurally, the tail does not seem as long as I might expect for a Pine Warbler. The bill length (best seen in photos 2 and 3) does not seem particularly long, and shorter than I would expect for a Pine Warbler. The relatively heavy amount of streaking, and the lack of any peachy cast to the underparts makes me think this isn't a fall Bay-breasted, though I have no experience with Bay-breasted Warblers either. Finally, the legs and feet appear quite pale (flesh-colored), and though not "yellow" or "orange" as they are often described in field guides, the color seems to fall within the range for Blackpoll (at least based on the photos of this species I've looked at).

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 20D

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/11.0

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

1351 pixels x 1099 pixels

Original file size

540.35 KB