[bcbirdclub] Photo Comparison - Blackpoll and Bay-breasted
- From: "Roger Mayhorn" <rmayhorn@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "BCBC Listserve" <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:27:24 -0400
Hi All,
Two warblers that are very difficult to identify in fall plumage are the
Blackpoll Warbler and the Bay-breasted Warbler. They hardly look anything alike
during the spring in their breeding plumage (first two photos).
But in the fall when they are migrating through to their wintering grounds they
are very difficult to tell apart. Compare the birds in the following two
photos. That's why these and some other warblers are often referred to as
"confusing fall warblers". Both of these birds have wing bars, an eye-ring, and
green on the back and head. One major difference in these two birds is the
color of the feet and legs. The Blackpoll has yellowish or light-colored feet
and legs while the Bay-breasted has dark legs and feet. The Bay-breasted also
has buffy colored flanks while the Blackpoll has whiter flanks. The eye stripe
(through the eye) is more defined on the Blackpoll than on the Bay-breasted.
The greenish color on the back and head of these two birds looks different in
these photos, but often it is very similar, and both species may have dark
streaking on the back. 1st year female Bay-breasted often look very much like
Blackpolls except for those differences mentioned.
Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mt
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- » [bcbirdclub] Photo Comparison - Blackpoll and Bay-breasted - Roger Mayhorn
