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.