Quiz #5 (answered)

Quiz #5 02/25/08-03/02/08

 

Note: Original bird replaced due to possible ambiguity of ID.

 

Here’s a little reminder of the spring that is surely on the way. Here in Portland it feels like it’s already arrived! So this is a pretty terrible picture of a pretty boldly patterned bird. The bold pattern, thin bill and delicate features, not to mention the habitat, should make us think warbler. Oh, I can feel warbler-neck coming on already! Anyway, if we glance in a field guide we notice that despite the bright pattern its still not a slam dunk. There are quite a few warblers that are yellow underneath with black streaks. Plus we can’t see the tail pattern. Actually anyone that has spent time looking at warblers will tell you that this view is quite a common one. So, in order to be good at warblers one must know their ventral, and often cloacal, views of this family.

 

Let’s start with looking at our options. Remember that this is an ABA-area quiz so keep in mind all of the options not just the western birds. With a breast and flank pattern similar to our quiz bird here one could reasonably eliminate all but Cape May, Magnolia, Townsend’s, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Prairie, Yellow-throated, and maybe Canada. A good thing to look at early on is the throat (among other things). We can see enough of the throat to see that its clear yellow. This gets rid of Townsend’s and Black-throated Green (males). If visible, wing pattern can make or break a warbler ID. We can just see what looks like a rather large white patch on the right wing. Plus the wing appears much darker than the belly. This helps eliminate Prairie and Canada but looks pretty good for the rest. We can also throw out Yellow-throated since its pretty clear that the yellow extends down to the feet (also BTGW and TOWA females.) Plus the bill is too short for this species anyway. Another way to eliminate female Townsend’s Warbler is that the black border at the base of the throat extends all the way across the breast instead of being broken at mid-point as in TOWAs. So we’re left with Blackburnian, Magnolia, and Cape May. Three species that in some positions, like this one, can look mighty similar. Cape May males can vary in the amount of streaking in the throat but it seems pretty clear that this bird has none and that the black appears to stop ABRUPTLY AT THE BASE OF THE THROAT and the black streaks are VERY BROAD. These same features help us eliminate Blackburnian as well. So there we have it.

 

I took this picture of an adult male MAGNOLIA WARBLER in alternate plumage in the ruins of the Mayan city of Tikal in western Guatemala on May 8, 2007. Also present were several American Redstarts, Canada Warblers and one Blackburnian Warbler among other neat-o’s. Its so cool to see these guys in what I think of as such an alien habitat. But, of course, its their winter home (or at least home between homes). I have posted another look at this pretty boy for comparison. I ended up with seven responses this week. Thanks to all who participated including those playing at home, so to speak.

 

I am thinking about extending the length of time between quizzes to two weeks or a month to give more people the chance to answer. I chose a week because those are the quizzes I like best. However, its not a huge amount of time to study and answer. What do people think?

 

ANSWER:

 

MAGNOLIA WARBLER

 

ANSWER BREAKDOWN:

 

Magnolia Warbler – 5

Townsend’s Warbler – 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1

 

Congratulations:

 

David Bailey

Elaine Stewart

Henrik Herlyn

Don Stein

 

 

Done