Hi Monroe,

I agree with Harry, I think it's a Pine Warbler, but on second thought, 
it might also be a fall Bay-breasted Warbler.  The Pine Warbler often 
resembles a fall Bay-breasted, but the Pine's lack streaks on their 
backs and usually have a more distinct cheek patch.  This bird may have 
streaks on the back, I can't tell completely, but it definitely lacks a 
contrasted cheek patch. 

And I don't believe your second set of photos is a Black-throated Blue, 
but rather an American Redstart.

Hope that helps!

Best regards,

Ryan Scheuermann


Monroe Harden wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Monroe here with another bird identification question.  I saw the yellow
> bird in these grainy photos:
>
> http://monroe.20m.com/yellowbird.htm
>
> on the trail heading toward the Turkey Point hawk watch site in Cecil County
> over Labor Day weekend.
>
> I think it's a Yellow Warbler, but the whiteness of the wing bars is
> throwing me off.  My reference guides show this warbler as having yellow
> bars, not white as in the photos.  But the underside is completely yellow,
> all the way to the end of the tail.  There is a hint of an eyering in the
> photos, but it is not clear.
>
> I considered the possibility of it being a female goldfinch, but the
> goldfinch has white on the rump and bottom of the tail. I also considered
> that it could be a yellow throated vireo, but again, there is no white on
> the underside.
>
> Can anyone help me figure out what this bird is?  I included the blurry
> photos along with the slightly better ones to show the different angles of
> the bird.
>
> Monroe Harden
> Havre de Grace, MD
> 
>
> PS we had an odd looking bird in our backyard last night just before sunset.
> It was sitting on the ground and as viewed from above, it had large areas of
> black and brown.  It appeared to have almost no neck/throat, and it was
> about the size of a Mounring Dove.  It flew off as I tried for a better
> angle, and I did not see any white (or other colored) wing bars as it flew
> away over the fence.  I've never seen a Nighthawk on the ground or a Chuck
> Wills Widow, so I can't say if it was one of those.
>
>
>
>