Rare Bird Report #: 51-B-06

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Northern Parula

HOW MANY:

1

REPORTER:

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
208-558-7789

REPORTER EMAIL:

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:



DATE REPORT PREPARED:

9/20/06

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

9/8/06

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Yale Creek Subdivision near Island Park, Fremont County.

HABITAT:

Mixed coniferous forest

CONDITIONS:

Binoculars used were nikon 10 x 42 Premier LX. Distance 10-30 yards. Sun high and behind observer.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, later the same day

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Peterson Field Guide to Warblers
Sibley Guide to Birds

DESCRIPTION:

Overall blue on upperparts. Tail blue with white on at least outer two rectrices. White in tail did not appear as solid white corner but was limited to outer webs ot rectrices. Face blue. Bold white eye arcs obvious. No dark line observed through eye. Wings had bold white bars that were distinctly seperate, not merging into a solid white patch. Breast had band of chestnut and black. Tail obviously shorter than Yellow-rumped Warbler in direct comparison.

BEHAVIOR:

This bird flushed from along a dirt road at the approach of my truck. It was followed by a Yellow-rumped Warbler which had an obviously longer tail with more extensive white corners. In flight the blue back and short, white-edged tail were seen. It landed in some weeds near a Lodgepole Pine and moved several times, staying in a patch of weeds less than two feet off the ground. At one point the head was visible and the face and white eye arcs were clearly seen for five seconds or so at a range of approximately 25 yards. After changing position I could see the white wing bars. Just before it flew away it shifted again and I saw the side of the breast band. This birds was in a large mixed flock that contained Yellow-rumped, Wilson's, and Orange-crowned Warblers, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Chipping Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Dark-eyed Juncos.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

When I saw the eye arcs I thought of Northern Parula. The breast band was the clincher.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

There are no other north American Warblers that have a blue face with white eye arcs in fall. I observed dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers the same day and none were blue on the face. The breast band further eliminates all warblers except possibly Tropical Parula which does not show white eye arcs.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I've seen Northern Parula on several trips to NJ and NY as well as two individuals in Idaho.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

13 years

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None