Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-37
| Common name: |
Magnolia Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Dendroica magnolia |
| Date: | September 9, 2006 |
| Time: | 9:30am |
| Length of time observed: | 1 minute |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | unknown |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | Parley's Nature Area, near junction of I-80 and 2300 E, [Salt Lake City] |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | lowland riparian |
| Distance to bird: | 10-15 meters |
| Optical equipment: | 8x42 binoculars |
| Weather: | clear |
| Light Conditions: | typical mid-morning light conditions. I was looking north at the bird and the sun was from the east; bird was in the shade of riparian trees during observation |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium-sized Dendroica. More or less similar in size to accompanying Black-capped Chickadees |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | typical shape for a wood-warbler |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | grayish above, yellow breast, with longitudinal streaking below, white wing bars, white tail with broad black tip (as seen from below) |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | thin insectivore bill, typical wood-warbler type |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I was looking through a mixed-species flock containing chickadees and a
plumbeous and a warbling vireo, when I noticed a warbler that was generally dark
grayish above and yellow below. I kept my binoculars on it and saw a grayish
face, white wing bars, and yellow breast, with longitudinal dark streaking on
the yellow breast. The bird gave me an immediate general impression of a
Magnolia Warbler. While the bird was foraging actively I occasionally saw
flashes of white coming from the UPPERSIDE of a generally blackish tail. What
really clinched the ID was when I got a great view of the UNDERSIDE of the tail.
The UNDERSIDE of the tail was white with a broad black tip (the black region was
approximately as long as the tail was wide). I'm not sure on the sex/age of the
bird, but based on the amount and intensity of streaking on the underside, I would guess that it is neither an adult male nor a first fall female. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | not heard |
| Behavior: |
actively gleaning from foliage and moving about from branch to branch in
mid-level of tall riparian trees, associating with 2 black-capped chickadees, a
plumbeous vireo, and a warbling vireo in a mixed-species flock. |
| Habitat: | riparian woodland. Cottonwoods, box-elder, etc. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
By foraging behavior, posture, and bill shape, goldfinches and other yellowish non-warbler birds are eliminated. The white wing bars and dark grayish-above/yellowish below pattern with breast streaking eliminate many other species of warblers such as Nashville, Wilson's, Yellow, MacGillivray's, etc. The undertail pattern that I observed eliminates all other small yellowish species I am aware of (including vagrants) that might be confused with Magnolia Warbler, including the most similar species in fall, Prairie Warbler. American Redstart also has a similar bicolored undertail, but it is yellow/gray or orange/black, NOT white and black. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I just moved to Salt Lake from Michigan in early August. My previous 10 years of
birding experience have been in Michigan, where Magnolia Warbler is one of the
most common fall migrants. I have seen approximately 25-50 Magnolias per fall
for the last 10 years. Many similar species also occur in Michigan as common
fall migrants, such as Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler, and Blackburnian Warbler. I am accustomed to confidently
identifying Magnolias during fall migration because in Michigan it is necessary
to be able to rapidly identify a warbler as "just another Magnolia" while in
search of more sought-after species. This is usually accomplished by rapidly
assessing overall color of the bird and undertail pattern. |
| References consulted: | None, but I recommend consulting Peterson's Warbler field guide, and viewing the last color plate, depicting the underside of the tail of all North American wood-warblers, to see just how distinctive the Magnolia Warbler's undertail is. |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | David Slager |
| Observer's address: | 1345 University Village, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | dave.slager@gmail.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none yet |
| Date prepared: | 9/9/06 11:30am |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |