Hey Keen Observers:
Quite a few Orange-crowned Warblers have been reported just in the last
couple weeks. If any of you paid particular attention to the appearance of
these birds, I am very interested in what they looked like. Notice I did
not say "what subspecies they were," as frankly, I think only the most
obvious ones are ...possibly... assignable to subspecies in the field (
http://ebird.org/content/nw/news/orange-crowned-warblers-oreothlypis-celata-in-the-pacific-northwest/).
But any of us can share what they LOOKED LIKE!
Here are a couple of examples of birds I have photographed this winter:
Gray-headed (I'm sure it's one of the gray-headed forms; celata probably)
https://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S33067367
Non-gray-headed, lutescens (I think)
https://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S33253324
Key features to take note of based on the article above and talking with
Dave Irons:
1. Extent of gray from top of head down sides of head to frame throat and
back of head: is it strong and creating a hooded appearance (not unlike
Nashville Warbler or female MacGillivray's Warbler), or is it more subtle,
but still a hooded appearance, or really no hooded appearance at all, with
dominant color on head being yellowish?
2. Color and contrast of throat: is it yellow, like the breast? Is it
whitish and contrasting with the yellow breast? Or ashy and not contrasting
with the dull dishwater breast?
3. Prominence and color of eye arcs: are they white? apparent? yellow? less
obvious?
4. Overall intensity of color, especially on underparts: rather dull,
grayish, with some yellowish, and most obvious yellow on undertail coverts?
Brighter yellow, from either throat OR breast, all the way back to
undertail coverts (there is often a small white area around the legs in all
types).
Fascinating birds those Orange-crowned Warblers. Some of those gray-headed
versions look like a whole 'nother species compared to our western Oregon
breeding birds!
Best Regards,
Matt Hunter
Melrose, OR
