Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler - Zak Pohlen
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Shemya Island--Eareckson AS (restricted access)
Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 52.7207244, 174.1123276
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

Casual in Western Aleutians although first Shemya record. After work I decided to check one last celery patch at the SE edge of Runway A just before sunset. In the 20 or so times I have walked this patch I have only ever had Song Sparrows. I kicked up the Middendorff's close to the west end and was able to see it on the ground twice before the Song Sparrows found it. Song Sparrows then proceeded to go after it causing it to flush two more times and up over the edge of the runway and out of sight. Was unable to relocate it before dark. Rather plain bird with brownish uppersides and pale goldenrod color undersides suggesting juvenile. Faint dusky mottling on back, unmarked rusty-brown uppertail coverts. Brownish undertail coverts were confusing but seem normal for Middendorff's. Faint white tipping to outer tail feathers bare visible. Less robust bill and paler below than Gray's Grasshopper. Warmer brown back, more defined supercilium than Pleske's. More back mottling than Chinese Bush.

Technical information

Dimensions
1702 pixels x 1021 pixels
Original file size
1.3 MB