Here are my observations (below).

Wallace R. Kornack

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Wallace Kornack <>
> Date: February 16, 2006 12:12:39 PM EST
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Note on Baltimore Nashville Warbler
>
> It has been a few weeks since I viewed the Nashville but my  
> recollection is that it did not pump its tail excessively like a  
> palm warbler, the breast and neck had a dull yellow appearance,  
> there was no apparent contrast between the head and back, and muddy  
> white near the vent.  In my opinion it was a ruficapilla.
>
> Wallace R. Kornack
> On Feb 16, 2006, at 11:36 AM, Paul O'Brien wrote:
>
>> Has anybody looked at the Carroll Park Nashville Warbler to  
>> determine whether
>> it is the nominate eastern ruficapilla or the western ridgwayi?    
>> The major
>> clue for ridgwayi is constant tail pumping, like a Palm Warbler.    
>> Eastern
>> birds can pump their tails occasionally, or even continuously if  
>> they are
>> agitated, such as a migrant that has just dropped in after a long  
>> flight.   Plumage
>> differences are subtle but include reduced contrast between head  
>> and back and
>> increased contrast between back and rump, which is a bright yellow- 
>> green in
>> ridgwayi.   The yellow of the undersides is brighter and a more  
>> pure yellow than
>> in ruficapilla and there is a bit more white in the vent area.    
>> All these
>> characters are a matter of degree, but are discernible in the  
>> field if you get a
>> good, long look.
>>
>> At such a late date, a western vagrant may be as likely as an eastern
>> holdover.
>>
>> Paul O'Brien
>> Rockville, Mont. Co., MD
>> 
>