Posted by Marie on February 14, 2003 at 17:01:53:
Extremely sorry for the tardiness of this post, but I was on a 4 day trip to the Everglades Feb. 10-14, got back last night sick and am still recuperating.
At any rate, I was with a group of birders on Feb. 11th and while by myself I saw a small plump warbler, overall appearing brown, no wing bars or other distinguishing characteristics except for a prominent white unbroken eye ring. No supercilium, no eye line. Couldn't check undertail coverts or undertail pattern.
In reviewing various field guides including Sibley, National Geo, and the Jon Dunn/garrett Peterson's Warblers, I believe it to be a Vermivora species based on its structure.
I have ruled out the following Vermivora:Bachman's (although it would be nice to resurrect one, wouldn't it? :), Blue-Winged & Golden-Winged,or hybrids,Tennessee, Orange Crowned, Nashville, or Lucy's.
The remaining two are Virginia's or Colima's.
In the discussion in the book about Virginia's, the color "mouse brown" is mentioned and that is what I remember the color to be. For the plumage I have ruled out either fall adult male or first fall male.
That leaves me with either fall adult female or 1st fall female. No drawing for 1st fall female. Could be either.
From the book, UNDERTAIL COVERTS ARE YELLOW IN THE VIRGINIA'S. TAIL RELATIVELY LONG, FREQUENTLY PUMPED
The Virginia's is indicated as 4-5", the Colima's as 5.25. The size seemed better for a Virginia's but its tough to tell without comparison.
The coloring for the COLIMA'S appears too dark, and the tail appears too long in relation to the size of the body. (Colima's is described as "like large, long-tailed Cirginia's but moderately to stronglywashed with brown on the back, sides, and flanks. UNDERTAIL COVERTS DEEP ORANGE-YELLOW. SELDOM PUMPS TAIL.
Didn't have that long a look at the bird to see if was pumping or not. Sorry to not be able to give more info. Hope you see it.