Saturday, September 17, 2016

First Ever Warbling Vireo!

Captain Sam's

Though today was not nearly as busy as yesterday, we did catch a good variety of birds. There were 52 new birds caught and 16 recaptures totaling 14 different species. We did catch a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird and recaptured one of the Bell's Vireos. The Bell's had put on some weight and should be getting ready to head out soon.

Little Bear

It was the third best day this season out at Little Bear this morning with 39 new birds and 13 recaptures of 19 species. Common Yellowthroats are still our highest capture and should be for the coming weeks. We did have our first couple Gray Catbirds this morning, a preview of what's soon to come. Gray Catbirds will be our next wave of migrants after Common Yellowthroats. We also had a first-of-the season Magnolia Warbler and a first ever at KIBS, a Warbling Vireo! This was only the second Warbling Vireo I've seen and the first I've had in the hand. It's also the first Warbling Vireo on record to be banded in the state of South Carolina! This was another exciting vireo catch of the season after already capturing two Bell's Vireos at Captain Sam's.

Many people confuse Warbling Vireos with Philadelphia Vireos, but there are many characteristics that can be used to separate them. Warbling Vireos have a very white chin and throat and get more yellow as you move down the body while Philadelphia Vireos get more yellow as you move up the body. Warbling Vireos also do not have a very distinct eye line whereas the Philadelphia will have a distinct, dark eye line. The most obvious characteristic to look at when you have either bird in the hand is p10. Philadelphia Vireos have a vestigial p10. A trait that is vestigial is one that was once used but through evolution, no longer serves the same function or one at all. It is a remnant of what was once an important trait in its ancestral form. An example in humans would be the appendix, which is no longer used to help in digestion and may now serve no function at all. The vestigial p10 on Philadelphia Vireos, if there is one at all, will be 2-5mm shorter than the primary coverts. Warbling Vireos will still have a noticeable p10 that extends past the primary coverts by 2-8mm (as seen in picture below).

-Michael Gamble

Warbling Vireo (hatch-year, sex unknown)


Wing of Warbling Vireo showing p10 extending
past the primary coverts
    


  Species Captain Sam's Little Bear
New Recaps New Recaps
Common Ground-Dove
-
-
-
1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1
-
-
-
Downy Woodpecker
-
1
-
-
White-eyed Vireo
7
2
3
1
Bell's Vireo
-
1
-
-
Warbling Vireo
-
-
1
-
Red-eyed Vireo
1
1
3
-
Carolina Chickadee
-
1
1
-
Tufted Titmouse
-
-
-
1
Carolina Wren
-
1
-
1
Gray Catbird
-
-
2
-
Ovenbird
-
1
1
-
Northern Waterthrush
3
1
1
-
Black-and-white Warbler
1
-
-
-
Common Yellowthroat
34
-
13
2
American Redstart
3
1
1
-
Magnolia Warbler
-
-
1
-
Yellow Warbler
-
-
3
-
Palm Warbler (Western)
-
-
2
-
Prairie Warbler
1
1
3
-
Eastern Towhee
-
-
-
1
Northern Cardinal
-
3
-
2
Painted Bunting
2
-
4
4

-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-




 Banding Stats Captain Sam's Little Bear TOTAL
# Birds Banded
52
39
91
# of Recaptures
14
13
29
# of Species
14
19
23
Effort (net-hours)
138.7
100
238.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)
47.6
52.0
49.4
Nets
26
20
46

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS)
Mattie VandenBoom (LB)
Alison Nevins (CS)
Col Lauzau (CS)
Michael Gamble (LB)
Michael Rodgers (CS)
Ryan Donnelly (LB)