Saturday, June 12, 2010

Warbler Guy, which vagrant warblers have recently been seen in Alaska?


Good question, Thomas (in Cincinnati, OH).

According to the May, 2010 issue of Birding Magazine, the Willow Warbler (ABOVE PHOTO) (Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, 8/25/02), Sedge Warbler (9/3/07) and Pallas’s Leaf Warbler (9/25/06) are the three most recent significant observations.

(By the way, a vagrant bird is one that appears far outside its normal range. Some people believe “accidental” equates with vagrancy. Among a number of factors that cause a bird to become vagrant, genetics and weather conditions are two.)

Which warblers are predicted as upcoming potential vagrants to Alaska?

Candidates include Gray’s Warbler, Oriental Reed-Warbler, Black-browed Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, and Japanese Bush-Warbler.