Black-throated Green Warbler, Chaffee County

[Eric DeFonso]

Hi all,

While doing RMBO work on a high-elevation transect today, I was shocked to hear the song of a Black-throated Green Warbler at just under 12,000 feet in spruce-fir forest. I heard the very distinct song 3 times at a distance of about 100 meters, but unfortunately the nature of my work does not allow me to spend time investigating such phenomena freely. Still, the song stood out so prominently from all the other sounds I usually here up there that I am very confident in the ID of this bird. This is a species that likes spruce forests up in the far north and back east, so thinking that one (or perhaps a pair?) found a home in our Engelmann spruces forests here isn't really that much of a stretch.

I'd be happy to provide precise directions on request as to where to find this bird, but it's safe to say that it's not easy to get to the location. It's on public land, but it's a serious hike. But, if you like high-elevation birding in Colorado, then you'd be well-rewarded I'm sure. The area has White-tailed Ptarmigan, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Red Crossbills galore, among other nice birds.

--
Eric DeFonso
Boulder, CO (currently in Bewna Vista)

[Eric DeFonso]

I forgot to mention that the general location of the bird is off Cottonwood Pass Rd (CR 306) leading west from Buena Vista, about 13 miles west of town. I hiked up USFS Rd 346 to approach the area in question.