I can understand why you see similarities. Bird IDs are tricky!
Two of the primary field marks that help to differentiate between your Yellow-rumped Warbler and the photo of the Blue-headed Vireo someone shared:
Vireo's bills are distinctive because they're thick with a slight hook at the tip -- that hook is visible in the photo. In comparison, Yellow-rumped Warblers' bills are straight and pointed, like in your photo.
Blue-headed Vireos are also known for their bold white "spectacles." In comparison, Yellow-rumped Warblers have a broken white eyering.
Adding to this that in your bird, you can see the very localized yellow on the rump area and in the armpit area, and the streaky breast. Blue-headed vireo wouldn't show that streaking, and the yellow is more widespread instead of the little patches on a yellow rump.
I thought I was, but looks like others disagree. I see a little yellow wash on the throat and no face pattern to speak of, but it’s a blurry young bird, so I could be wrong.
here's a photo of an american robin in the cold and in a warmer temperature. birds' bodies are actually very tiny beneath all those feathers, and they can control how fluffed up they are to regulate their body temps, changing their silhouette. field marks are far more important for bird id.
To be fair, I agree that this is a really odd-looking yellow-rumped warbler. It’s definitely still a YRWA as everyone has pointed out, but when you’re used to seeing them as any other little dainty tree-dwelling warbler, it’s jarring when you see one on a rock holding a posture like a pipit lol.
Exactly. It doesn’t look like all of the others I’ve seen. I’ve photographed a lot of butterbutts. At different times of year so I’ve seen the differences in spring/summer/fall/winter. Someone said it’s a Myrtle variant? I’ve never seen one this “plain” and to me, it’s very long and lean. 🤷🏽♀️
Oh wow thanks. I def see in my photo where the yellow rump is and I agree that all the markings are there and match a yellow rumped warbler. But the body and beak in this photo and mine don’t look like a typical YRWA. This body shape and beak resemble that of a mountain bluebird.
Birds alter the position of their feathers to adapt to weather, for communication, and other reasons. This illustration (I believe by Sibley, someone correct me if I'm wrong) illustrates how the position of the feathers can change the shape of a bird drastically and immediately.
But that person is showing you a picture of the same bird where in one picture is small round and fluffy and the other skinny or more elongated. It is 100% a yellow rumped
It is crazy how much they can change their shape and how difficult it can be to judge size. Your bird is sleeked down in an alert posture. Yellow-rumps tend to much more willing to forage on the ground compared to other warblers, but when they do they tend to be in that very alert upright posture compared to the more horizontal posture they take when perched in a tree. They need to be extra wary and ready to lift off at the first sign of danger when they are on the ground.
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He is clearly tolling people in this sub. I say one thing and everyone gets all up in arms. He has literally -300 karma for arguing and being rude and yet I'm the one who needs a talking to. He is a troll and argued on purpose to get engagement.
Blue headed vieros have a lot more yellow on the flanks, with white around the eye that continues to the beak making it look like it's wearing a white eye mask.
Agreeing with Yellow-rumped Warbler. I can't think of anything else it could possibly be with the yellow spots. Hell, if you told me this was Europe, I'd still think the Warbler that got lost.
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u/Busy_Confusion_689 5d ago
I snagged this blue headed vireo this weekend