Confusing fall warbler
Howard Youth (hmyouth@erols.com)
Fri, 18 Sep 1998 15:34:19 -0400
I sat out back this a.m. and caught a small but diverse warbler flock.
Amidst the mahem in our maple, I repeatedly saw (in the flat light of high
overcast) a puzzling warbler I thought was at first an imm. blackburnian.
Closer inspection revealed these clues:
* A mysterious eyeline with a fainter line below on the cheek (low edge of
auriculars). (I checked this one carefully and it was definitely not a
darkish cheek patch as in blackburnian.)
* A short tail
* Whitish underparts, including vent, (again in flat, overcast lighting)
with a trace of faint streaks on the flanks
* Did not see upperparts as well, but they appeared uniformly grayish
brown? (no white stripe as in blackburnian)
* Saw other yellowish-splashed warblers in the same location, including no.
parula and female redstart, but on this bird I could notice no yellowish wash
* Two very noticeable wingbars of the same width
Anyone want to venture a guess?
My guess was a POSSIBLE immature female cerulean. I must confess that I've
never seen an immature cerulean before. I'd love to hear from someone who's
got experience with these birds, so I'll be better prepared to think yea or
nay for next time.
Thanks.
Howard Youth
hmyouth@erols.com
Rockville, MD