Hey tweets,

To piggy-back on Alan's post about those Hermit x Townsend's hybrids: I want to highlight the song pitfall with a comparison to Townsend's and Black-throated Gray Warblers. The songs for those two warblers are fairly variable, and it leads to some songs that essentially overlap in too many ways (cadence, quality, etc.), for an identification, or even a guess worth a nickel. However, within that variability, there are also some songs that are more classic BTGW or TOWA, where . . . I just don't remember putting binoculars on the bird and finding that I'd been fooled. The overlap exists, for sure, but there's some songs from individuals of both species that make for easier identifications for sure.

These other guys, in part because of the hybridization, and in part because of normal variability, just aren't even remotely friendly. I've heard a song that was perfect textbook Hermit Warbler stuff from a bird that had (as far as I could see?) every field mark you would want from a Townsend's Warbler. I don't even know what that means?? My ears still enjoy the different song from Hermits - it's like hearing an accent that you don't get to hear often - but I've just come to understand that this accent may be giving me zero information about the identity of that bird.

May all of your birds be identified enjoyed!

Tim Brennan
Renton
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