Rare Bird Report 25-B-04

Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form

Species: Black-throated Blue Warbler (immature male)

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

6105 Kirkwood Rd

Boise, ID 83709

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

Other Observers: IBO field crew members Patrick Migas, Patrick Kolar, Khara Strum, Kevin Glueckert, & others

Date Report Prepared: 12-10-06

Date Sighting Occurred: 9-25-04 (capture)

Locality of Observation: Lucky Peak, Ada Co.

Habitat: north-south trending ridgeline with a patchy mosaic of shrubsteppe, mountain deciduous shrubland, and conifer forest

Conditions: I don’t remember

Did you take notes? not at all

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? during the observation

What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?

Pyle’s 1997 ‘The Identification Guide to North American Birds’, Sibley, National Geographic

Description: A Dendroica warbler with dusky blueish upperparts; a white wing patch at the base of the outer primaries that extends past primary coverts; white underparts; and black on the cheeks and sides of face.

Based on incomplete skull development and plumage, this bird was identified as an immature (hatch-year) male.

Behavior: none observed as this was a bird captured as part of a standardized bird migration study

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? The bird was captured and ID’d immediately. The only question was age (determined to be immature by greenish edges to some feathers on the upperparts and by the skull development).

How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? There really are no species that can be confused with a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. Cerulean Warbler also has blueish upperparts but lacks the black face and the white wing patch.

Experience with this species (and similar species): I have observed moderate numbers (> 50) during breeding, migration and winter in both the US (esp. Connecticut, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) and Jamaica. I have also previously captured and banded 1 Black-throated Blue (1 adult female) during fall migration at Lucky Peak.

General birding experience: extensive; 14+ years in US and Latin America

Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach) Yes, by Patrick Kolar (on IBRC website).