I believe there is overlap in size between Bell's and White-eyed Vireo (4
3/4"-5"/ 12-13 cm), the Bell's being at the smaller end of the spectrum and the
White-eyed at the larger, but there is broad overlap. The California
subspecies of the Bell's (the "Least Bell's" Vireo bellii pusillus) would seem
to be the smallest, but also the less likely to stray here.
Hutton's Vireo is the one I have heard compared most often to kinglets, and
indeed, it is quite small (10-12 cm).
I haven't seen this bird, but I would agree that the photo appears to be a
young White-eyed. Bell's I have seen in AZ & CO appeared to be quite gray and
muted in appearance, reminiscent of a small Warbling Vireo. Apparently, the
easternmost birds are also the brightest and largest, so the most likely to
stray here would be the most similar to White-eyed.
Having not seen this individual however, my 2 cents isn't especially helpful...
Interesting puzzle!
Gabriel WillowNYC Audubon
--- On Thu, 9/13/12, Richard Veit <veitrr2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Richard Veit <veitrr2...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Bell's Vireo There may have been 2 birds
To: "Elizabeth D Poole" <acupres...@aol.com>, "NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu"
<NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu>
Date: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 11:53 AM
yes this bird is substantially smaller and scrawnier looking than the several
white-eyed vireos that are also present. i suspect it is literally a "runt"
white-eyed vireo. Richard R. Veit
Professor
Biology Department
CSI/CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-982-4144
Fax 718-982-3852
From: Elizabeth D Poole <acupres...@aol.com>
To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Bell's Vireo There may have been 2 birds
Has anyone noted the relative size of this bird or birds?
Bells Vireo is substantially smaller than the other vireos and has been likened
to or mistaken for a Ruby Crowned Kinglet (it's larger than a kinglet).
-----Original Message-----
From: Cotingas <cotin...@aol.com>
To: NYSBIRDS-L <NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu>
Sent: Thu, Sep 13, 2012 10:31 am
Subject: [nysbirds-l] Bell's Vireo There may have been 2 birds
Greetings to all,
At approximately 8:45 a bird was located by a
number of birders deep within the Virginia Creeper tangles in that dead tree .I
had some real difficulty despite patience on the part of Isaac Grant and
others.
This is where the bird in
question had first been seen.
After a number of observers pointed out the bird, I
finally had a good look. Then another (?) bird flew very close to where we
stood and we observed it for some time in an elm sapling very close
to the trail. That bird, was not as yellow -some wash but not bright and I
did watch some very distinct tail movement and the bird did flick and
raise its tail a number of times. Given the fact that tail movement is a
behavior of the Bell's Vireo, I do think there were in fact 2 different
birds.
When the "second bird" that I had just
mentioned left the tangle, the light and of course the view was so much better.
In conclusion is tail movement a conclusive and helpful aid in the
identification of the vireo? I do in fact think there were two different
birds.
Howard Fischer
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