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I recently learned that there has been some speculation, based on the photo at left, that the North Chagrin Reservation Philadelphia Vireo discovered by Kevin Metcalf may represent a different species. The thinking has involved the possibility of a "swainsoni" Warbling Vireo. A couple of field observers, including myself, were well aware of that possibility while viewing this bird. However, my 6 observations over a 2.5 hour period (about 20 minutes viewing time) led me to easily conclude that this was indeed a Philadelphia Vireo. Below are my comments taken from an email sent to Larry Rosche; the first immediately after the sighting and the second from about two weeks ago in response to the suggestion of a swainsoni Warbling Vireo. |
| Photo by Haans Petruscke, Copyright 1999, All Rights Reserved. |
Kevin took me out around the back of the center and stood me next to the two dogwoods giving me the low down on it's habits when the bird appeared on a branch above us only to drop down to the dogwood about 8 ft away - as close as I can focus. It was active as it took a couple of berries. Bringing up the video camera caused it some agitation and it went on to another bush at the edge of the pond. From there it went up to preen above us again for a minute or more only to head off a good 50 yard flight toward the lower pond. I relocated it amongst goldfinches and Eastern Bluebirds foraging in weedy growth along the pond edge. I watched on and off for another 90 minutes. It could disappear for as much as 35 minutes but always returned to those dogwoods - four visits during my time there. Visits were 15-45 seconds, just long enough to grab 2-3 berries. There is a green leafy willow? A tall very leafy tree which it could easily get lost in. It spent 3-4 minutes in here apparently surface gleaning - hard to say as it was about 18 ft up and obscured from view.
The bird is clearly a vireo, squat in proportions, with brilliant light yellow colour on the entire underparts. So colorful was this bird that as it zipped past us on a couple of occasions, we could readily pick the bird out. Also the impression was of "there goes a yellow bird" not "there goes a brownish bird" which I always think of when viewing a Warbling Vireo. Haans referred to the lighting situation enhancing the color - a distinct possibility in these low angle sunlight conditions right now. However, on two occasions I found the bird down toward an nearby building completely shaded from the sun, in fairly dark surroundings, and the color was if anything richer and clearly involved the entire underparts including the throat.
The bird certainly appeared in most ways a Philadelphia Vireo. The black eye-line clearly passes through the eye to the bill. For a Philadelphia Vireo it struck me as a bit longish. Still nothing like what occurs in the Red-eyed Vireo complex of vireos, but typically one thinks of a short stubby bill relatively to that of a Warbling.
[30 Dec. Insert] - the argument here was against the possibility of a Yellow-green Vireo, so yellow was this bird. Since the comment regarding Warbling Vireo I have found closeups of the Philadelphia Vireo in photographic guides which match the North Chagrin.
I obtained some video - which at the very end includes about 15 seconds of worthwhile material. The bill length is clearly visible. My examination of the video reaffirms these observations. Even something of the bluish-gray cast to the crown can be discerned when viewed head on. I do think the bird will remain tomorrow (64 deg. F and sunshine predicted) and given its very predictable habits, I think it is worth going out to see. - V.W.F.III
I identified it as a Philadelphia Larry. I actually did raise the possibility of a western Warbling Vireo while looking at it, however no such bird is ever wholly yellow throughout the underparts. I believe I described the bird as the impression of a yellow bird flying by rather than brown under polarized light. Haans' photos appear in direct sunlight (unpolarized and washed out - which has nothing to do with his photography and everything to do with the lighting conditions he was working under).
. . . The body was tightly held in classic Philadelphia fashion quite unlike the Warbling. - V.W.F.III