To All:

I grew up on Peterson and he states in his classic guide going all the way
back to the 1934 edition, that both sing each others song. I found this to
be true over the years. Usually if you wait long enough and they stay put
they will revert to type.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Adams County, PA

On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 6:13 PM, Bob Ringler <> wrote:

> Jim,
>   Both Blue-winged and Golden-winged warblers and both the hybrids can sing
> the song of either species and sometimes both. My personal experience
> includes a Golden-winged Warbler at Finzel Swamp seen singing only the song
> of Blue-wing, a Brewster's hybrid in Garrett County also singing only the
> Blue-wing song, and a Blue-winged Warbler in Washington County alternating
> the songs of both species. In Carroll County I have twice heard a
> Golden-wing song in spring but was unable to see the bird and I did not
> count it since in both cases there were Blue-wings breeding in the area.
>   My personal rule of thumb is to absolutely see the bird when it is in an
> area where one of the species is unlikely to breed. For me that would
> probably be any Blue-wing song in Garrett or Allegany, and any Golden-wing
> song outside Garrett County. But everybody has their own standards and I
> tend to be more conservative.
>
> --
> Bob Ringler
> Eldersburg MD
> 
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Jim Stasz <>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jim Green
> > To: ; 
> > Sent: Thu, 15 May 2008 2:16 pm
> > Subject: Goldenwinged/Blue-winged Warbler question
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Â
> >
> > Hi Jim & Bob: I led a Montgomery County bird club trip yesterday to Green
> Ridge
> > State Forest (Allegany County). We do a lot of driving and then stopping
> when I
> > hear something and then jump out of the cars to observe. We were near one
> of the
> > intersections of Dailey Road where both roads are Dailey Road. I heard a
> > Blue-winged warbler clear as day and jumped out of the car and announced
> what I
> > heard. It took us 30 seconds to find the bird perched up about 20 feet in
> a
> > sapling singin’ away. The bird, however, was a GOLDEN-WINGED warbler. I
> > quickly grabbed the scope and after everybody in the group had acceptable
> looks
> > at the bird I studied the bird carefully in the scope. It had all of the
> field
> > marks of a Golden-winged; there was absolutely no evidence of any field
> marks
> > suggesting a Blue-winged or a Lawrence’s warbler. I am interested in
> any
> > comments that either of you may have on this subject. I know that a
> Lawrence’s
> > can sing either song but this one puzzled me to no end. I had been
> birding in
> > Garrett County the day before and saw and/or heard Golden-winged warblers
> in
> > several areas. I would also appreciate if one of you could post my
> comments and
> > your responses on The Osprey. I read it all of the time but am not a
> subscriber.
> > I am sure others would be interested in what you have to say. Thank you
> in
> > advance.
>
>