Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-66
Common name: |
Temmessee Warbler |
Scientific name: | [Oreothypis peregrina] |
Date: | 9/13/24 |
Time: | About 11am |
Length of time observed: | Few seconds |
Number: | 1 |
Age: | Adult? |
Sex: | Male? |
Location: | East shore of Sand Hollow Reservoir |
County: | Washington |
Latilong: | |
Elevation: | 3000 ft |
Distance to bird: | 10-15 yards |
Optical equipment: | Swarovski 42x8.5 |
Weather: | Clear & sunny, zero wind, about 75 degrees |
Light Conditions: | Bright sunshine coming from about 130 degrees to my right |
Description: Size of bird: | Comparable to Orange-crowned Warbler |
(Description:) Basic Shape: | Comparable to Orange-crowned Warbler |
(Description:) Overall Pattern: | Comparable to a pale or washed-out Orange-crowned Warbler |
(Description:) Bill Type: | Comparable to Orange-crowned Warbler |
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Comparable to Orange-crowned Warbler except obviously paler, grayer head; more obvious/contrasty, paler and perhaps broader supercillium; paler/grayer-buffier below, with PALEST AREA at undertail coverts kind of a pale creamy buffy-gray; different shade or kind of green on back/wings: more rich-olive with a metallic sheen or bright undertone (hard to describe - color scheme reminds me somewhat of Red-eyed Vireo). |
Song or call & method of delivery: | Silent as far as I could tell, though it could have given a location or flight call I assumed was a different warbler. |
Behavior: | Associating with a sizable mixed flock of mostly Orange-crowns plus Yellows foraging in tamarisk. |
Habitat: | An extensive "stand" of well-spaced tamarisk (a favorite of migrating warblers) with reedbeds plus a few interspersed willows on the adjacent lake shore, and several small cottonwoods and a very few larger ones farther inshore, surrounded by an expanse of sage-scrub. |
Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Orange-crowned Warbler: The most obvious difference is the pale,
lacking-any-yellow undertail coverts. The gray
head was paler than any OC I've ever seen (I know there's considerable
variation), and the green upperparts was a different shade and different
type of green, with almost a goldish sheen (hard to describe). Warbling Vireo: Too small. Size of this bird was easy to compare with the many Orange-crowns in same bush. Bell's Vireo: Too compact and more colorful Palm Warbler: This and other similar species are eliminated off the top by the pale, "unsaturated," lacking-any-yellow undertail coverts. |
Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Virtually none, tho I've seen them in CT. What I DID know was to focus on the undertail coverts. I have seen numerous other species listed above. |
References consulted: | Sibley field guide. AllAboutBirds.org: matches the first photo of a breeding plumage male. |
Description from: | Notes made later |
Observer: | Paul Hicks |
Observer's address: | 1630 E 2450 So #26, St George 84790 |
Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None |
Date prepared: | 9/14/24 |
Additional material: | The mixed flock of Orange-crowned and Yellow Warblers were almost "thick" in the tamarisk (plus 3 MacGillivray's present). The pale gray head with the obvious paler supercillium immediately caught my attention, signalling this was a different species. I knew to immediately focus on the pale undertail coverts and confirmed this was the palest area of the underparts, lacking any of the more-saturated-yellowish coloration of the other warblers. Then I noted the brighter, gold/bronzy sheen to the greenish upperparts. Then I went back to study the head. Then it was gone. |
Additional comments: |