Subject: [Tweeters] my message to Dan Gibson
Date: Jan 22 14:54:31 2005
From: Jason Rogers - hawkowl at hotmail.com


I sent the following message to Dan Gibson at the University of Alaska in
the hope of resolving the bunting identification dilemma we seem to be
experiencing:

Hi Dan,

As you may be aware, discussion continues in some Pacific Northwest birding
circles over the identities of both the pale bunting photographed by Dennis
Paulson at Harrison Hot Springs, BC in November and the one that associated
with a male McKay's Bunting at Iona Island, BC in December.

I imagine that the photos of these birds that were submitted to you for
comment were limited in number and that you were unable to devote much time
to examining them.

Therefore after consulting a number of publications, I made identifications
of the birds and provide support for these identifications below. However
some seem to hold the belief that unless one is a recognized authority on
McKay's Bunting, one is not capable of making these identifications. Thus I
was hoping you could find the time to review the evidence I've provided and
comment on whether you think it is sufficient.


IONA ISLAND BUNTING

I've identified this bird as a female based largely on the shape of the dark
centers of the scapulars and mantle feathers. In the fifth photo on the
following webpage, sharply-pointed centers are clearly visible:

http://vancouverislandbirds.com./Journal64.html

In another photo, taken by Guy Monty, the dorsal surface of a spread wing is
shown. The color of the dark areas in the primaries appears to be brownish
gray. I understand that this character separates females from males.

The bird also shows the following that, when considered together, seem to
describe an adult female McKay's Bunting:
- restricted brown in the crown, nape, and scapulars
- absence of brown in the mantle
- absence of concealed black in the back and rump
- unmarked uppertail coverts
- no dark bases to the greater coverts
- primary coverts appear white and show small black tips when the bird's
wings are folded
- immaculate P1
- P2 shows dark only in the tip of its shaft
- R3 appears to show dark only as a subterminal patch

However the appearance of the bird's flight feathers suggest an immature
female McKay's Bunting:
- outer primaries dark-based
- outer secondaries show small, dark subterminal edges in their outer webs
(only on the bird's left side; secondaries on right side are immaculate)
- R6 [?] shows a small, dark subterminal edge in its outer web

While these characters might suggest a hybrid, the absence of hybrid
characters in the body plumage seems to indicate that the relatively dark
flight feathers are age-related.

Thus I feel that the Iona Island bird is a female McKay's Bunting and
probably a subadult.


HARRISON HOT SPRINGS BUNTING

Photos of this bird can be found on the following page:

http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/snowbunting.jpg

This bird also appears to be a female. It shows dark centers to its mantle
feathers that are sharply-pointed. Though the black of its scapulars is
almost entirely concealed--a character that, in itself, suggests a
female--the sharply-pointed dark center of at least one scapular is visible.

In most respects, this bird is as pale as the Iona Island one. It is even
paler than that bird in the breast and tertials at least. Though details of
the bird's tail and primary coverts are concealed, the secondaries appear
immaculate. Thus one is reminded of adult female McKay's Bunting.

However the bird shows dark bases to its outer primaries and a dark-tipped
shaft in what may be R6. Considered in the context of the bird's very pale
body plumage, these would seem to be age-related characters rather than
indications of hybridization.

Although the bird shows grayish bases to its greater coverts, I understand
that this character is typical of immature female McKay's Bunting and is
even shown by some adult females. Again the absence of hybrid characters in
all other visible areas of the body plumage suggest that this is the case
with this bird.

For these reasons, I've identified the Harrison Hot Springs bird as a female
McKay's Bunting that is probably a first-year or subadult bird.


Thank-you in advance for any comments you would like to make on these
identifications.

Regards,
Jason Rogers
Banff, AB
hawkowl at hotmail.com