| Common Name | Cape May Warbler |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Setophaga tigrina |
| Type of Report | Out-of-Season |
| Date of Observation | 12/03/2020 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Larry Clarfeld |
| Mailing Address | 1 Hiawatha Ave Essex Jct., VT 05452 United States Map It |
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| Date Completed | 12/05/2020 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.49449642336875 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.12863495769005 |
| Place Name | private driveway to Whitcomb Woods |
| Township | Essex Jct. |
| County | Chittenden |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 09:34 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | ~2 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 70 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 15 |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Nikon Monarchs (8X42), and Nikon camera w/ 300 mm lens |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Very familiar, observed many times in a variety of plumages |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Suburban. Seen along a roadside, in a yard, and in an area with hardwood saplings between a driveway and a lawn. |
| Behaviors Observed | The bird was active and observed eating at one point (I think a seed). It got pretty close to a bird feeding in a yard, but didn't visit it. It stayed low, never much higher than eye-level off the ground. The bird descended deeper into private property, and I did not pursue. |
| Description of Vocalizations | silent. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Even from a far distance, I knew I had something good and at 50+ feet I already had a feeling it was a Cape May. The yellow rump was prominent as it moved about, and was the first clue to the ID, but after I got closer and saw the face and breast there was no doubt. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Warbler-sized, think warbler beak. |
| Head | Distinctive facial pattern, with yellow "sideburn", grayish patch below eye and on cheek, yellow throat and eyebrow, darker cap. |
| Feet & Bill | dark/black feet, think black beak |
| Upper Back | Patches of gray and olive green, with black speckling. |
| Lower Back & Rump | very obvious yellow rump |
| Wings | dark primaries, with thick white wing bar. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | yellow breast with fine black streaking. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | I was lucky to have a vibrantly colored individual. Using the most obvious and apparent features, the combination of yellow rump and yellow breast (with fine black streaking), and yellow above the eye are enough to distinguish all similar species. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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