For folks not on Facebook,
Some have begun to question if this bird is actually a Connecticut
Warbler. Other possibilities put forward have been Mourning Warbler or
Nashville Warbler. I’m interested in any thoughts. Sorry for getting
pedantic but I’m going to go through a bunch characters:
- The eyering is rather prominent, suggesting Connecticut or Nashville, but
does a look a little incomplete, which could suggest Mourning. Possibly
even MacGrillivray’s.
- The throat is pale gray, suggesting Connecticut or Mourning. Even
pale female first year Nashville’s aren’t that gray. The gray bib seems
not as long down the breast as Connecticut or Mourning though.
- Undertail coverts are short, which should eliminate Connecticut.
- Overall structure to me appears more like a Nashville, with short bill,
short body, compared to longer-bodied and longer-beaked Connecticut and
Mourning Warblers.
Mourning and MacGrillivray’s hybridize so that is also a possibility.
I’ll submit the photos to the Advanced ID group on Facebook as soon as they
add me.
I’ve attached the cropped and original photos. These are the only 2
photos I got. The photos were taken Saturday morning at Jester Park, Polk
Co.
I’ve never had so much fun with photos! They show almost all the
characters but its still a mystery, lol.
Tyler Grant
Ames, Story