I saw a hutton's vireo at Nehalem State Park yesterday morning. Had I not read
this conversation I may not have looked so closely at it. Thank you, it was a
life bird. The first thing that struck me was the sound it made. Second was that
it didn't flitter at all. It sat still on a branch in a shore pine. I had plenty
of time to look for the black wing bar, and it was lacking. It did seem larger
than a ruby crowned when it flew. Also, the white eye ring seemed bolder to me.
which was later confirmed when I saw a ruby-crowned kinglet. Other birds of note
I saw:
ruby and golden-crowned kinglets
a pair of barrow's goldeneye
common goldeneye
surf scoter
pacific wren
great horned owl
yellow-rumped warber
In all, very few birds around. I had a much better day at Whalen Island the day
before. I saw my first white-throated sparrow. It was in a flock of about two
dozen white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows. As well as one very richly
colored fox sparrow.
Scott O'Donnell
On February 7, 2016 at 9:52 AM Deb Holland <deborah.holland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi,
I agree that Hutton's Vireo can be quite a challenge as it so closely
resembles a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. The Ruby Crowned Kinglet usually gives
itself away with it's scolding chatter...a sound that makes me think that it's
annoyed and irritated. It's really useful to know the songs and calls of
these two tiny birds.
David Irons put together an excellent comparison of the two birds back in
2014. His discussion of the wingbars leads to an easy visual fieldmark.
http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2013/08/29/birding_101_the_hutton_s_vireo_vs_ruby_crowned_kinglet_challenge
Deb Holland
Newport
On Sun, 7 Feb 2016 07:55:25 -0800, roger freeman <carrotguy55@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> > Hutton's Vireo can be a bit of a challenge bird. Unless they are
> > vocal, a glimpse here or there in dense fir trees leaves one often
> > assuming Ruby-crowned Kinglet, especially if Golden-crowned Kinglets
> > are in the vicinity. But when the Hutton's Vireo breaks out in
> > melodious and symphonic song ... (NOT!) ... it gives itself away. In
> > reality, the song is rather bland.
In my yard today, I enjoyed a few glimpses of an active Hutton's Vireo,
frequently calling out its simple repeated 1-2 syllable noted song. As it
moved around, It generously provided much of its repertoire of simple and
monotonous variations of single notes. I think the Hutton's Vireo has one
of the more modest and simple songs of our local forest passerines.
Recognizable yes, but not something to gush over.
So listen for the familiar repeated ... Chweet ... or Chee-up ...in your
local woodlands, as the Hutton's Vireo is already thinking about spring.
Roger Freeman
Silverton Hills
>
