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ID help

Discussion

8 replies
Posted by Jim Hackley on May 15, 2011 at 12:51 AM
ID help
I had this pale yellow bird fly to a branch right above me at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson. I got one shot off before it flew away. The only thing I can find in my bird book that looks like this is a immature yellow warbler. Any help on this id would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
Posted by Nate Chappell on May 15, 2011 at 1:01 AM
I think it's a Nashville Warbler, but not sure of it.
Posted by RL Potts on May 15, 2011 at 1:33 AM
Are you sure this is even a warbler? The beak shape, proportions, and robust legs are more like an oriole or tanager. On the other hand, it does seem to have a gray head and possible eye-ring.
Posted by Ian Stanley on May 15, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Orange-crowned Warbler, excellent shot catching it out in the open
Posted by Brian Gatlin on May 15, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Jim, it's an Orange-crowned Warbler. Never a species with a ton of field marks, this one is particularly plain. The bill is a pointy vermivora bill (not the blunter dendroica shape of a yellow). A Nashville would show a very bold white eye ring, where this bird has none. Instead you can see a bit of the dark line through the eye that is characteristic of an Orange-crowned. Some races of OCWA have gray heads that contrast with their yellow bodies.
Posted by Nate Chappell on May 15, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Orange-crowned was my other thought but this bird looks very different than the ones we get here in the Northwest.
Posted by Mia McPherson on May 15, 2011 at 12:17 PM
It looks like a young oriole to me, maybe an orchard or scott's?
Posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 15, 2011 at 7:25 PM
I vote Oriole too.
Posted by Brian Gatlin on May 15, 2011 at 8:16 PM
hmm. now I am coming around to the oriole perspective....the bird seems big and long and lanky, more the shape of an oriole than a warbler....