Subject: Townsend's X Hermit Hybrid
Date: Jan 31 14:31:55 2001
From: Birdking88 at aol.com - Birdking88 at aol.com


Hello everyone.
I was just outside for a few hours, and as I was scanning a flock of
kinglets, chickadees, and Townsend's Warblers in my yard, I found a
Townsend's X Hermit Warbler Hybrid. The bird was an adult male, near the top
of a Douglas Fir in my yard. It surprisingly stayed still for about 15
seconds, before flying off with the rest of the flock. It was a relatively
typical hybrid, with a Hermit-like head and Townsend's-like underparts. The
breast, however, was faintly streaked, unlike most other hybrids I've seen
with fairly bold streaks on breast. The mixed-flock left for about 20
minutes, and then was back in my yard. I scanned the flock again but could
not find the hybrid. Our yard is at about 820' elevation. I've had 1 Hermit
Warbler in my yard several years ago (in the summer, of course).
Other birds in my yard included some Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills,
and an unidentified raptor. The raptor was very large, with crooked wings.
The only thing that I could think of was a Golden Eagle, but the view was too
brief to be sure. The bird did not flap the entire time I could see it. Good
Birding.

http://hometown.aol.com/birdking88/index.html
Birdking88 at aol.com
Charlie W. Wright
Sumner, WA
Age 12