If you missed the first email and would like to try and ID the bird before
reading the ID below, here is the link.
http://acoomer.smugmug.com/photos/876762917_t8ZLr-XL.jpg
At first this bird seemed like a Vireo (bill size and shape) with a hint of
thrush. However I was unable to match up any species. I then looked at drab
female warblers.
Here are the ID results of what was emailed to me by the few brave birders
willing to accept the challenge.
8 Northern Mockingbird
7 Pine Warbler (Female)
Although Northern Mockingbird got the most votes it is not a Northern
Mockingbird. Here’s why.
The photographed bird’s second wing bar starts around the third Greater primary
covert. On the Northern Mockingbird the Second wing bar has a white patch at
the primaries. This is part of the larger White section on the greater primary
coverts that can be seen when the Northern Mockingbird is in flight. Bi-colored
eye that even juveniles have should be visible. There is always the possibility
that poor lighting resulting in iris appearing dark like pupil. However I feel
the pale iris of the Northern Mockingbird would still be somewhat visible in
this photo.
Onto Pine Warbler
Hint of yellow in throat and breast with light faint green/yellow mantle and
crown.
I had considered Pine Warbler because photo looked much like first fall female
shown in many ID guides. But I ruled this out because photographed bird would
no longer be in fall plumage and would be in spring plumage. After getting a
few recommendations that the bird photographed was a female Pine Warbler I
again looked at the Pine Warble and this time reading more in depth. I found
the Peterson book "Warblers" mention that first spring females can look just as
drab as first fall females.
So the bird in photograph looks to be a First Spring Female Pine Warbler.
After I wrote the above, I got an informative email from a birder making
several good points. He also pointed out the lack of mockingbird's white wing
patch(mentioned above). He pointed out that Virginia Pine (Tree perched on)
needles average 2.5 inches thus giving us an idea of scale.
He also wrote "Pine Warblers nest very early and would be expected to have
fledged young by now."
Kaufman "Lives of North American Birds" states.
The Pine Warbler nests as early as Feb in the south and late March or early
April in the North. Incubation is 10 Days and then young fledge in another 10
days. For our area Pine Warblers could easily be over a month old by now with
some being around two months old.
I hope many of you found this as educational as I did.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
Tony Coomer
Prince William County
Photos showing Mockingbird markings talked about above.
Northern Mockingbird (adult)
http://acoomer.smugmug.com/Birds/KINGLETS-THRUSHES-THRASHERS/Northern-Mockingbird/MG8110/512748291_w6vts-L.jpg
Northern Mockingbird (Juvenile)
http://acoomer.smugmug.com/Birds/KINGLETS-THRUSHES-THRASHERS/Northern-Mockingbird/MG3805/365033977_iXMwy-L.jpg
Northern Mockingbird (Spread Wing Display)
http://acoomer.smugmug.com/Birds/KINGLETS-THRUSHES-THRASHERS/Northern-Mockingbird/MG3802/365033933_w7rTD-L.jpg
