Hi All,

Juvenile Warbling Vireos are a big pain when trying to find Philadelphia 
Vireos in fall migration. My initial reaction when seeing a fairly 
normal Philly is "What's that  warbler?" If it takes a couple of moments 
before you call that "warbler" a "vireo" it's probably a Philly. I 
seldom have that problem with Warbling Vireos because they are so drab 
and long-billed, even the greener juveniles with their yellow flanks and 
occasional yellowish breasts don't say "warbler" to me. As such the 
"catbird" vs. "kinglet" analogy is a plus in Stan's notes. A classic 
Philly has a slightly brighter olive back than a Warbling contrasting 
with a blue gray crown (not as deep blue gray as a red-eyed), a dark 
line through the eye passing into the lores (like a weak red-eyed 
again), a small bill, and a  light lemon yellow throat and upper breast. 
Thus the description of the bird as having a weak face pattern with 
spectacles is a negative point (Phillys don't have specs, they look a 
tad "angry", again like a "weak" red-eyed).

I should also note that the published early date for a migrant Philly in 
Massachusetts is 8 August (in Veit & Petersen's "Birds of MA"), and I 
have not seen an earlier date for southern New England since I have been 
editing the Fall North American Birds reports for the Region with Nancy. 
Let's say I'm on the fence on this report, it's plausible, but there's 
room for skepticism.

Thank you Stan for giving us some details to contemplate, I am looking 
forward to further discussion of this bird.

Good birding,

Walter Ellison

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620

phone: 410-778-9568

e-mail: rossgull(AT)baybroadband.net

"Nothing is as easy as you would like it to be, and nothing is as hard 
as you might fear"