IDAHO RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

Species reported: Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

Date and time of record: May 27, 2008; about 12pm

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

Idaho Bird Observatory, Boise State University, 1910 University Ave., Boise, ID 83725; jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

Other observers: Tess O’Sullivan, Liz Stevens, and several other participants in a Lava Lake Ranch bird walk

Date report prepared: Jan 25, 2009

Locality: Upper Fish Creek Rd, NE of Carey, Blaine Co.; the bird was seen along a beaver pond along Fish Creek Rd approx. 14 miles N of Hwy 20/26

Habitat: open Aspen forest and dead trees along small beaver pond

this picture (© Tess O’Sullivan) shows the exact location during observation

Conditions: Cloudy and cool spring day; recent storm activity/rain. We were able to view the bird at close range (with 10m) with binoculars and a scope (Fujinon).

Did you takes notes? No.

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? If so, which guide(s)? After observation: National Geographic and the Sibley Guide

Description of bird: A warbler with a black cap and white cheeks; a gray, streaked back; and yellowish-orange legs. To add to my description, here is a quote from Tess O’Sullivan (an amateur bird-watcher) the day after the observation (taken from http://lavalake.wordpress.com/): “The most unusual sighting was of a blackpoll warbler which, according to Jay, may have been the 10th sighting ever documented in Idaho. These birds would typically be much further to the east. The blackpoll had a chickadee-like head and a sparrow-like body and we enjoyed a really long look at it next to a beaver pond.”

Behavior of bird: A large flock of mostly Yellow-rumped Warblers came down a slope and starting feeding actively all around the small beaver pond – many were feeding within feet of the ground. Over the course of several minutes, we watched the Blackpoll moving with the flock and feeding mostly very close to the ground and perching on dead & downed branches/horizontal trunks. Since I do not have an attachment for my scope/camera combo, the bird was moving too fast for me to get a picture (holding camera to the scope ;-).

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? I soon noticed a different-looking bird in flight but once it perched, I could only see its back which had sparrow-like streaking which was too gray to be any expected sparrow. Once it hopped up, I could see the black cap and white cheeks which, in combination with the streaked back, are diagnostic for a male Blackpoll Warbler. We were also able to see the pale-colored feet diagnostic of this species.

List similar species and how you eliminated them: Several other warblers can be similar to other plumages of Blackpoll but the adult male can really only be confused with Black-&-White Warbler (more streaked overall pattern and different foraging behavior) or a Black-capped Chickadee (black bib, no streaking) and only if not seen well.

What is your experience with this or similar species? I have seen hundreds of this species in all ages/plumages in many states, including Idaho and South Dakota, as well as in wintering areas such as Venezuela and Panama. This was the first sighting for all other observers.

Describe your general birding experience: I have been birding for about 15 years.

Were photos, video, and/or audio obtained? No.