Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form
Rare Bird Report #: 39-B-07
Species: Magnolia Warbler
Reporter: Jay Carlisle
6105 Kirkwood Rd
Boise, ID 83709
jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu
Other Observers: Jake Briggs, Carlos Valeris, Dianne Parrott, Dave Ewoldt, Jereme Sommers (IBO field assistants)
Date Report Prepared: 5-19-07
Date Sighting Occurred: 5-18-07 (capture); seen on 5-19-07
Locality of Observation: Camas NWR headquarters, Jefferson Co.
Habitat: riparian woodland
Conditions: clear, cool, and calm
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 a green back; gray head; 2 white wing bars; yellow undersides; whitish undertail coverts; a distinct black breast band (necklace) and black streaks on sides of chest; a white supercilium above a darker cheek patch; and broad white tail spots across most tail feathers (closer to base of tail than on other Dendroica species).
Based on plumage & (lack of) feather wear, this bird was identified as an adult (after-second-year) female.
Behavior: this was a bird captured as part of a standardized bird migration study; I had a brief view of this bird (saw the band) at about 745pm on 5-19-07 and she was foraging in the mid-height branches of a tall willow tree.
How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? Clinching features included the tail pattern combined with the gray head, green back, and yellow underparts and the breast band.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? Magnolia is superficially similar to several grayish above/yellow below Dendroica species and some immatures can be confused with Prairie Warbler (which has no hint of a breast band and a paler head). Other than Prairie, only Kirtland’s has extensive yellow below but it has more streaking (above and below) and a different tail pattern. Adults could possibly also be confused with ‘Myrtle’ (Yellow-rumped) Warblers based on the facial pattern but this species/subspecies lacks extensive yellow below, has a different tail pattern, and does not have a greenish back.
Experience with this species (and similar species): I have observed tens to hundreds (only a few Kirtland’s) of Magnolia and Prairie but this is the first I have observed in Idaho (but see previous report of a capture 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 Carlos Valeris.
