Warbler Guy, what are occurrence maps? Do warbler occurrence maps exist?

Yes, Carli, Occurrence Maps are present for many North American birds.


(See: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/occurrence-maps/occurrence-maps)


As a tool to display the abundance of a species at any given time during the year, these representations
are called STEM (Spatio-Temporal Exploratory Model) maps that address species' occurrences in the Lower 48 states. 

(Prothonotary Warbler Occurrence Map, above; if its functionality does not work for you at this site, then go to the above site in line two and click on "Prothonotary Warbler")

For each species depicted, its migration patterns are accounted for along with its breeding range.


Additional details are necessary to fully explain the Occurrence Maps and STEM.


For now, suffice to say that Occurrence Maps may be a tool you wish to add to your repertoire when identifying wood-warblers.

Warbler Guy, are wood-warblers the smallest songbirds in our area? If not, which songbirds are smaller than wood-warblers?

The answer (Jake, in Dubuque): No.....and Ruby-crowned (and Golden-crowned) Kinglet and Bushtit are species smaller than wood-warblers. Unlike the typically 4- to 5-inch wood-warbler species, both of the kinglets and the Bushtit range from 3.5 to 4.3 inches in length*.

What other small-time songbird candidates are we missing?  What about the Verdin, you say? Or the various chickadees in North America?

Nice try, but the Verdin is 4.5 inches and the chickadees (such as the Black-capped and Mountain) typically range from 4.5 to 5.5 inches in length.

(* = Of course, at 7 inches, the anomalous Yellow-breasted Chat is larger than any of the approximately 56 wood-warbler species you might see annually in North America north of Mexico.)

Warbler Guy, I’m visiting northern California in January, so which warblers might I see on the coast?

The answer depends on where and how long you scour the landscape (along with luck).

For example, on 12/30, Ruth Rudesill found the following seven species (below account within quote marks) amid the Bodega Bay, Sonoma County area. Hermit and Black-throated Gray Warbler would be two more forest species that are uncommon to rare non-breeding species to see in January along the central/northern coast.

Within Sonoma County (per the below account), two good spots to check in the Bodega Bay area include Diekmann's Deli and Owl Canyon (both of which are highlighted at Colin Talcroft's birding spots of Sonoma Co. via: http://www.colintalcroft.com/Sonoma_County_Bird_Watching_Spots/Sonoma_County_Bird_Watching_Spots.html)

“It was a glorious day at Bodega Bay - sunshine, little wind. At Diekmann's the sun shone on the eucalyptus tree above the store ad had birds! I felt Rich S. was there showing me a Nashville Warbler along with a Yellow, Orange-crowned, Townsend's and Yellow-rumped! Chickadees were calling and it was very special.

Later in the day refound the the Palm Warbler with our group at the Cypress area of Doran Reg Park. (Dea Freid and Mike Parmeter had this bird last week ) but we saw not one but two! 7th species was a Common Yellowthroat.

Later an immature Black-legged Kittiwake flew by us at the Jetty. The male Eurasian Wigeon was at the Doran entrance pond. A flock of 300 Aleutian type Cackler Geese flew over Dea, Scott Carey and me later in the afternoon.

We saw the dark Red-tailed Hawk, , female Peregrine Falcon and the almost adult Bald eagle over the harborside part of Doran Park too

Hopefully others will post their great finds! So glad to have the day off birding with my friends!”

Ruth Rudesill

Kenwood CA

Here's answers to recent warbler quizzes (that appear on the right side column)

Quiz Answers

As you scroll from top to bottom on the right column, here's corresponding answers to the most
recent quizzes for which I have not yet provided answers:

1. Identity of warbler photos from top to bottom: Cerulean, N. Parula, Prothonotary, Swainson's, Yellow

2. Fifty-five or 56 warbler species typically annually occur in N. America north of Mexico.

3. Spruce budworm — which experience boom and bust cycles — is an imperative food resource that is often a limiting factor influencing the nesting success of some boreal forest breeding warblers.

4. Late arriving species in spring vary, but often include all three in the quiz: Blackpoll, Connecticut, and Canada.

Warblers on Christmas Bird Counts? Are they easy to find, Warbler Guy? Which warblers might I see during wintery-wintery Christmas Bird Count walks?

Good question, Cristin (in Davenport, IA).

Maybe you should head to Ashland, WI to see the true version of the BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER shown in this photo from 11/23/12?

Will it hang around long enough for you to see on the local Christmas Bird Count there?

Read the account from Ryan Brady, below, and you'll notice how rare it is to see this species so far north in late November.

As for more likely wood-warbler species to see in northern latitudes (upper Midwest, for example) in late December and early January: Yellow-rumped, Pine, Palm, Common Yellow-throat, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-breasted Chat are more likely suspects. Yellow-rumped is probably the most likely of the above list, with Pine next typical.

*

Yesterday when the temps were a balmy 60+ degrees I was sent a photo of a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER at a feeder in Cornucopia, the northernmost town in Wisconsin.  If accepted by the Records Committee, it would be the 3rd latest in Wisconsin history.  With wind chills now in the teens and 6-9" of fresh snow across the Bayfield Peninsula, we'll see how it fares.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32706210@N05/8212908272/in/pool-wisconsinebird

Interestingly, the homeowner also commented on seeing a flycatcher of some type (possible E. Phoebe), which is one that may have gotten away given the potential for a southwestern vagrant along this Great Lakes shoreline.  And one final tidbit, this is the same residence that recently hosted a Summer Tanager and not-so-recently hosted our only local record of Green-tailed Towhee. If his house ever goes up for sale, you know who will be first in line!

Not quite as rare but still a great find, budding young birder and photographer Cody Christenson found a PINE WARBLER at his feeders just west of Ashland in the snowy cold this morning.  I believe our latest, or perhaps second latest, local record.


Ryan Brady
Washburn, Bayfield County, WI
http://www.pbase.com/rbrady

Warbler Guy, where would you go now to see Palm Warbler? Blackpoll Warbler? Yellow-throated Warbler?

Coincidentally, Evan (in Los Angeles), all three of these species are currently present in San Francisco's urban clutches within Sue Bierman Park (near the Ferry Building in the downtown area). Josiah Clark's recent post in SF Birds confirmed their presence.

In recent years, this "island of green" has hosted more than a few species of wayward wood-warbler species.

The urban-based, warbler-pursuing paparrazzi shall not be disappointed again this year, with the Yellow-throated Warbler repeatedly seen for the last weeks in this inner-city location.

To find it, go to the right side of this blog and note the bird's presence in the California bird species report, then click on the hot text button to see a Google map. Or type in "Sue Bierman Park, San Francisco" within Google maps to find this location.

By the way, if you see the Yellow-throated Warbler, it's gleaming, breeding plumage is evident because as adults, members of this species undergo only one full molt annually (i.e., A pre-alternate molt is absent, unlike the vast majority of wood-warblers that express this molting phase.) The result: After a late summer/fall complete "pre-basic molt," the current rendition of this species retains its current, bright regal glory amid the nearby bustle of downtown San Francisco.

Warbler Guy, which late migrating warblers might I see now? Is Orange-crowned seen in New England this late?

Alexandria (in New Haven, CT).

Yes, it's true Orange-crowned Warbler may be present in New England this late.

Although most of the Canadian and Alaskan subspecies (Oreothlypis celata celata) found in the USA by this time are in the southern USA, a few brave ones persist now from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. Even fewer will remain by the time Christmas Bird Count results are tabulated, but it's not uncommon for some groups to see Orange-crowned into the new year and, during some non-breeding seasons, some will through the winter as far north as New England.

That's why the recent Rare Bird Alert posting, below, from Rhode Island is notable.

As for other wood-warbler species that are sometimes seen in northern latitudes (e.g., From Wisconsin east to New England) in late October, look for Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat as leading candidates. Evidently, Tennessee Warbler is also a member of the truant bunch this year, given the same Rhode Island posting, below.

*

* Rare Bird Alert * Rhode Island * Statewide * October 28, 2012 * RIRI1210.28 - Birds mentioned WOOD SANDPIPER RUFF DICKCISSEL Snow Bunting Ipswich Savannah Sparrow Nelson's Sparrow Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Dunlin VESPER SPARROW Lapland Longspur ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER EVENING GROSBEAK Pine Siskin Tennessee Warbler Hermit Thrush Brown Thrasher American Bittern date: October 28, 2012 (401) 949-5454 or 245-7500 ext 3052 compiler: Janice St.Jean transcriber: Janice St.Jean (_DLSaint@aol_ (mailto:DLSaint@aol) ) _www.asri.org_ (http://www.asri.org) Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for October 28th, 2012. This report covers the period from October 21st to October 27th, and will be updated in about one week. The WOOD SANDPIPER that was found at Marsh Meadows in Jamestown on the 13th, is still being seen every day. The bird frequents the Northeast and Northwest corners of the marsh. Park at the water treatment plant on North Road. To reach the NW corner of the marsh, take the public access path on the left, or south, of the chain-link fence at the plant. After a short walk and after a white pipe, take the much narrower path to the marsh on your left. Once at the marsh, walk right along the marsh edge for about 50 yards. To reach the the NE corner, take the marsh-edge trail on the East side of the road, across the street from the treatment plant, and follow the well worn path to the back pools where the bird feeds. Trails are getting worn and muddy, boots are recommended. On the 22nd, a BALD EAGLE was spotted there. A juvenile RUFF was found in Barrington on the 23rd, and has been observed every day since then. It is in the marsh adjacent to Barrington Country Club along Nyatt Road. Access can be gained from RISD's Tillinghast estate. Park in the dirt lot and Walk down the trail through the mowed field to the path that cuts through the marsh. A DICKCISSEL was seen here on the 24th, AND 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were viewed on the 25th. Other sightings this past week included: 1 Ipswich SAVANNAH SPARROW, 2 NELSON'S SPARROWS, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and 2 DUNLIN. At Sunset Farm in Narraganset, 3 VESPER SPARROWS were seen on the 21st. A single VESPER SPARROW was observed along a field edge in the Seapowet area of Tiverton on the 22nd. In Westerly, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on the lawn and in the parking lot at the Watch Hill Lighthouse on the 27th. At Avondale Farm Preserve, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen on the 23rd. Sightings of EVENING GROSBEAK are being reported, with a flyover at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Caratunk Refuge in Seekonk on the 25th, a visit by 3 at a feeder in Middletown, and another 3 were sighted at a feeder in Charlestown this week. In addition, PINE SISKINS continue to invade all parts of the state. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was studied in Little Compton, at the Goulart Community Garden on the 26th. On the 23rd, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 5 HERMIT THRUSHES and 2 BROWN THRASHERS were found at Camp Cronin in Point Judith. Finally, at Mud pond at the end of Moonstone Beach Road in South Kingstown, 1 AMERICAN BITTERN was seen. The water level at Mud and Card's Pond has been lowered. That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding! - End transcript