I’ve posted before about my annual challenge of trying ti ID local migrating warblers. Any thoughts about this one?
Western burbs of Chicago, My best guesses are Bell’s Vireo or Tennessee Warbler.
-Pretty nondescript - greenish-grey all over.
-Head NOT clearly grey.
-No clear eye bar/ring, other than a “sense” that the area around the eye was lighter.
-I’m leaning towards the warbler because of the small bill.
-No strong yellow other than a “sense” of yellowish high on the body near the wings.
-Very “flitty” behavior.
-Small bird.
-Unclear whether one pretty strong wingbar, or 2 subtle ones, but definitely SOME barring.
-The most prominent coloration/pattern was the primaries, going back to the tail - appeared grey and white striped.
-Was flitting about in a hackberry tree, apparently checking out the buds about to open.
It’s pretty much impossible to give a definite identification without a photo. However, the thin bill suggests a warbler rather than a vireo.
It could be a dull female or immature Tennessee Warbler. The best marks are a very short, sharp, bull, a pale superciliary, and a dark line through the eye.
On the other hand, it could be a very drab first year female Yellow Warbler. This is suggest by the apparent lack of pattern on the face.
Thanks. I’ll see if I can grab a photo - if only w/ my phone.
ButI just find this so challenging. Especially when I started considering immatures and variants. I’d like to be able to get a DEFINITE ID, and even w/ the bird giving me good, long, repeated looks (through binos from maybe 50 feet away), and my Peterson’s and Sibley’s open, and then looking on-line, I’m still unable to be certain. I truly respect those who are good at this.
One thing non-experts should accept is that some individuals are just not identifiable, at least if you don’t have the bird in the hand or very good close-up photos.
I’ve written field guides to birds, and I’ll let you in on a secret. Even the best and most detailed field guides can give only generalities about field marks. There are almost always a few individuals that don’t fit. I’ve sometimes sorted through literally hundreds of specimens in museum drawers, trying to find some character that was always true of a species. Sometimes there isn’t one.
So don’t feel so bad if you can’t identify it. When I’m leading a field trip and somebody points out an Empidonax flycatcher and asks me what it is, sometimes I pretend I don’t hear them.
Did you notice anything distinctive about its feeding behavior, manner of flying or walking, interaction with other birds or other animals, sounds it made, etc. There are often many more clues other than what it looks like when trying to identify birds. Upon further review before posting, I noticed that you did say it was very “flitty.” Good observation. I still have no idea what kind of bird it was.
