[obol] Re: Malheur Plumbeous
- From: Alan Contreras <acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "llsdirons@xxxxxxx" <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 04:57:00 -0700
I wish we had seen it in sunlight, but vireos are allergic to the sun. If it is
in the morning trees today I'll try for more photos.
Alan Contreras
Eugene, Oregon
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 4, 2014, at 11:42 PM, David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Tim et al.,
>
> Just looking at the images of this bird, I would lean towards this bird being
> a Cassin's Vireo. In the dorsal shots, the lower back and rump look green and
> the edges of the secondaries don't show much contrast and don't look white.
> Of course, I don't know if what the images show is consistent with what you
> saw in the field. Comparing the wingbars on this bird with images of known
> Plumbeous, it seems that the wingbars are both narrower and less conspicuous
> than they seem to be on most Plumbeous. This may be a seasonal (wear)
> difference, with both species potentially showing narrower and less
> conspicuous wingbars in Summer. In terms of the amount of green or
> yellowish-green that appears on the flanks, I am a bit puzzled by where
> Plumbeous starts and Cassin's ends. I've yet to discuss this with anyone who
> seems to have a good handle on how these two species differ in this regard.
>
> When I see Cassin's during spring and summer the amount of
> green/yellowish-green that I see on the flanks is very light dependent. When
> birds that are in the shade and appear to have no 'color' on the flanks one
> moment change angle or pop into the sunshine, they often reveal quite
> colorful flanks. I have this experience consistently with Cassin's. Just last
> weekend Shawneen spent several minutes photographing a Cassin's in Morrow
> County. I haven't gone through those images yet, but when I looked at them in
> the viewfinder in the field the amount of color on the flanks was all over
> the place on the same individual bird.
>
> The vocalizations may well be the best clue to separating these species in
> places where both may occur. I look forward to hearing Alan's voice
> recording. I've been hearing more singing Cassin's than normal this year, so
> I feel more prepared than I might be in most years to make comparisons.
>
> This continues to be a vexing ID issue, for which there seems to be no easy
> answer.
>
> Dave Irons
> Portland, OR
>
> Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 20:47:54 -0700
> Subject: [obol] Malheur Plumbeous
> From: harneybirder@xxxxxxxxx
> To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have posted photos of what Alan and I believe is a Plumbeous Vireo from
> Malheur NWR HQ today. Alan first heard it singing and both of us were able to
> get photos though it would never decend from the crown of the cottonwoods. I
> will add Alan's recording of the song to harneybirder.com when he is able to
> send that from a better location.
>
> The sightings column has been updated.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Tim Blount
> www.harneybirder.com
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