Warblers and gulls are definitely ID weak spots for me. I saw this little dude in my garden a couple of days and I think I know what it is, but I want your input - please. He pretty much split his time catching bugs in the mid section of trees as well as pretty close to the ground. Tail pumping was a regular feature of the bird's behavior. The weather was lousy and I couldn't get very close to the little guy so your ID guess may be pretty hard to make.
10 comments:
I'm not a great warbler person either, particularly in the fall, but I'm pretty sure you've got a palm warbler here. The behaviors of it feeding on the ground and, particularly, the tail pumping are my clues.
Hi Beth,
The bird was a little yellower than it looks in the pic which made me think of a Prairie... your thoughts?
I think it's a Palm Warbler too. Do you have a Sibley guide? Check out the drawing of the adult non-breeding. Tail pumping is so very characteristic of the Palm too.
The crown on a PRairie is more grayish and the Palm is more brown-rust.
Fall warblers kill me though, so I may be wrong.
I think Beth's got it. Looks like a Palmie to me to. Nice shots!
Looks like a Palm to me. And with all the yellow, probably an Eastern Palm.
I agree with Beth, definitely a palm...
Nice shots! I agree with Beth, it looks like a Palm Warbler, specifically a "Western" Palm (aka, the nominate subspecies, Dendroica palmarum palmarum).
I would expect a stronger "moustachial" line in a Prairie Warbler, and the "warbler1.jpg" image shows the yellow undertail coverts (I'd expect whiter in Prairie). In that pic you can see the rusty cap (much reduced from breeding plumage, but there nonetheless). Also in that image, and in "warbler2.jpg," I think you can see the difference in the pattern on the underside of the tail: the base of the tail feathers look like they're dark, while in a Prairie they'd be white. But that's really tough to see!
Nice bird, and nice shots; a new one for your yard?
-Mike
I'm thinking it's a fall Palm Warbler (Western Palm) for the following reasons. Brownish above, streaked below; bright yellow undertail converts; dark eyeline - yellow to tan; dark cheek; and the tail wag that you mentioned.
Thanks so much everyone. I had some more good looks over the weekend and I agree that I'm seeing Palms. Over the weekned I also had LOTS of kinglets and creepers - very nice.
Mike this is a new yard bird for me. I also saw two Prothonotary Warblers - lifers for me! Not a bad warbler week...
Thanks so much for the help with these confusing Fall warblers!!
Great shots of very pretty birds! Well Done!
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