Full Moon and few birds to band

I am summing up Sunday and Monday’s numbers because there just is not much to talk about. A full moon is great for migration if the winds are right. A northern front would be helpful in bringing the birds south. They are filtering their way south but not in any great numbers that I have seen or heard. Last year we did not have a 50 bird day until Sept 6th so I guess I should be patient. In the mean time I will share a quiz bird with you just to keep you up to speed on your fall warblers.
And here is a close-up of the head. It has buffy-white split eye ring so it is a hatching year male. If it was completely white split eye ring it would be an adult female and if it was all buffy with no indication of white in the split eye ring then it would have to go unknown for the sex. Some hatching year males will not show white in the split eye ring. Remember we also look at other characteristics such as alula (thumb) feather shape and other features to determine the age and sex of this quiz bird. So have you guessed the bird yet?
Here is another great fall warbler who has a different plumage in the fall than in the spring. Can you tell what sex this Chestnut-sided Warbler is? Do you notice a small bit of chestnut just under its wing? This makes it a hatching year male. Also once again if it does not have any chestnut on the flanks of a hatching year bird we cannot determine from its physical features if it is a male or female.
A couple highlights of the past couple days were our first Blackpoll Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush. A couple more Swainson’s Thrushes have appeared. The two days we banded 36 new birds and 8 recaptures. It looks like the weather is not going to change anytime soon. The days will come when the Blackpoll Warblers and thrushes will be here filling the trees, one just has to be patient. P.S. the quiz bird was a Mourning Warbler!

Calm winds produce little bird movement

It is a different day with about the same number of new birds as yesterday (20 new banded and 4 recaptures). There were a few first time for the fall birds today. One is a quiz bird. Give it your best shot.

Answer is at bottom of post.

Also here is another warbler with a diagnostic tail pattern. It has a long tail for a warbler and lighter flare of yellow on the outer tail feathers for this female American Redstart. Note also the bit of color on the flank by the bend in the wing. All helpful hints for fall warbler identification.

Another first for the fall which may make you think it is time for winter is this Purple Finch. As you can see it has loose juvenile feathers on the body with characteristic stripes on the flanks, thick beak, and dark facial stripe through the eye (It may be hard to see in this photo). This is a hatching year unknown sex bird. You cannot tell male from female at this stage in a hatching year Purple Finch's life. It is safer to look like female-like if you are a young male Purple Finch than to be bright purple and have the adult males showing aggression towards you. Its life may have a few less complications and add to its survival.
Another bluebird day forecasted for tomorrow. The weather is not supposed to change until sometime on Monday. However, there have been at least nine species of warbler seen around the marshes today ( Nashville, Magnolia, Blackburnian (no, I have not seen one yet), Bay-breasted, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat). Who knows you may see one that is not listed.
Enjoy!
P.S. the quiz bird is a hatching year Bay-breasted Warbler. This one cannot be sexed so it had to be recorded as a hatching year unknown. Notice the gray legs and feet which separate it from the Blackpoll Warbler in the fall.

Few birds but another surprise to make the day!

Yesterday was 12 birds. How about 21 today? Twenty-one new birds and seven recaptures was the catch of the day. High pressure is still in control of the winds. Warblers seen today include Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, and Ovenbird.
The highlight was this quiz bird. Take a look at the rich brown colors on its head. You see a glimpse of the dark triangle on its back and the white eye line? It is an important field mark.

Despite small numbers, there was an opportunity to see identifying features of a hatching year Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush. Looking at the tertials, you can see the Ovenbird has rusty edged tertials and the Northern Waterthrush has buffy or tan edged tertials. This is the identifying age characteristic for these species.

Part two of the first quiz bird.

And if that does not help, how about whole bird!

Such a beautiful bird! The Marsh Wren rarely comes out of the marsh but it did today! Enjoy the day!