St George Island Florida. 4/16/2014.
This post is the 20th warbler species I have posted since the end of March which for me is somewhat of a milestone. Those of you who are familiar with my photo stream know I have a special interest in warblers. My warbler images this year are thus far mostly taken in Georgia where we have over 20 breeding species in our state, and several images have been from Florida, with a few from Tennessee and a few from North Carolina. I have 2 or 3 more species to post from this Spring. The end of July marks for me to beginning of my fall migration efforts where I try for fall plumages including females and juveniles. I also hope to pick up some additional warbler species. I have had a lot of fun and adventure since the end of March working on this, and I sincerely appreciate all the comments and favs.
Tags: yellow warbler st george island
© All Rights Reserved
Adult spring male. St George Island State Park. Florida. 4/16/2014.
With the change of seasons and the early cold weather here in Georgia I am already looking forward to spring migration 2015! It was fun shooting this bird during a fall-out situation last spring on the coast. I got down low to the ground under a large sprawling oak and I remained stationary for some time watching the bird forage and even defend his small area against others of his species that dared come close. Other species foraged nearby but he was obviously less concerned about them...and about me too!
With the crop factor of my Sony body this image was actually 450 mm equivalence and at very close range.
© All Rights Reserved
This adult female shows a mostly full yellow throat bordered below with blackish coloration. The rear crown is mostly olive.
Some adult females will show a more complete hood more similar to the adult male and some show nearly no black hood at all and resemble first fall females.
St George Island State Park. 4/16/2014.
Tags: hooded warbler plumages adult female hooded warbler
© All Rights Reserved
St George Island, Florida. 4/16/2014. (warbler species posting #23 of 2014)
Heavily cropped image showing adult spring breeding male plumage. Image taken during a fall-out during spring migration. This is an uncommon spring migrant in my area of Georgia but a very common fall migrant due to varied spring and fall migration routes. Fall plumaged bird (due to relatively sparse dark streaking on yellow underside not a fall adult male) from last fall below in comments. Note the marked difference in plumage between the spring male and the fall bird below.
Tags: Magnolia Warbler Magnolia Warbler st george island fall-out compare and contrast
© All Rights Reserved
St. George Island State Park, Florida. 4/16/2014.
Spring female.
Compared to either the spring or fall adult male the female is duller in color overall but still a beautiful bird. She essentially lacks the chestnut and blackish chest bands across the yellow chest. She has some greenish feathers on the top of her head whereas the spring adult male would be all vibrant metallic blue in that area. Her lores (region in front of the eyes) is grey in color opposed to the adult spring male where that area is black. Her 'blue' is more grey than the blue of the adult spring male.
This female may be a first spring female. She appears to have a brown alula, and brown primary coverts, and green edged flight feathers (rather than blue), all indicators of a first spring female.
Tags: st george island fall-out st george island northern parula northern parula plumages set first spring female northern parula spring female northern parula
© All Rights Reserved