Hi -
When I read Adrian's post I sent him a private email indicating that I had a
fuzzy memory of an earlier east side report. I seem to recall in particular a
report of a bird giving the call/song of the southwestern interior form, and I
wrote the following:
"As you probably know, there are 2 subspecies groups of Hutton's Vireos, a
Pacific coast one, and a southwestern interior one. I have a fuzzy recollection
of someone's report of a Hutton's Vireo on the east side giving the calls of
the Southwestern ones. This was likely around 20 years ago, so likely not in
ebird. I think it was in late summer, but might be wrong.
"I have seen comments about the two groups being recognized as separate
species, but do not know of any recent activity in that direction. Ten years
or so ago (?) a revision was published of I think Rufous-browed Peppershrikes
that recognized at least one additional species. The paper included the
comment that Vireonidae was one of the bird families that was seriously
over-lumped, and that likely multiple more species, both tropical and
temperate, likely were composites of 2 or more cryptic species.
"There is much sentiment for splitting Warbling Vireo into eastern and western
species. Last year the AOS or whatever it is called now committee considered a
proposal to split Bell's Vireo into a southwestern and an "eastern" species
(eastern = midwest and Great Plains). They turned it down because of a lack of
data from New Mexico, but indicated the case for it looked pretty good.
"I assume, since you recognized your bird by voice, that it is a Pacific form,
but the southwestern ones might have more propensity to wander?"
Does anyone recall a Hutton's giving this other call?
Wayne
