It's a very interesting find Karen. I'd imagine voice is the biggest clue (more so than plumage).
As far as I know these two species are not naturally sympatric anywhere, so singing the 'wrong' song is more likely to be indicative of some form of hybridity than an example of 'learning'. It's well over 10 years since I lived out West so I can't remember enough about any variation I heard there. I would think a sampling of hermit song variation would rule in (or out) a pure taxa though. Cool bird, either way. Cheers Dom. www.antbirder.blogspot.com www.aventuraargentina.com + 1 646 429 2667 On Sunday, May 1, 2016, Karen Fung easternblueb...@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','easternblueb...@gmail.com');> [ebirdsnyc] < ebirdsnyc-nore...@yahoogroups.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','ebirdsnyc-nore...@yahoogroups.com');>> wrote: > > > Thanks to everyone for showing interest in this bird. > > Alexis found a photo on the Cornell site of an adult Hermit Warbler with a > black bib *and* auricular patch; it looks similar to the bird we saw: > > https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Warbler/id > > (Scroll down and look at the photo where the warbler is hanging upside > down.) > > Also, FYI (and to complicate things further), the song we heard sounded > like the zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee of the Black-throated Green. > > > Anthony's blog post about this bird can be found here: > > http://welshbirder.blogspot.com/ > > Please continue to weigh in with your thoughts. All concerns respectfully > voiced are welcome. Variety is the spice of life :-) > > Karen > > > > __._,_.___ > ------------------------------ > Posted by: Karen Fung <easternblueb...@gmail.com> > ------------------------------ > Reply via web post > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ebirdsnyc/conversations/messages/16052;_ylc=X3oDMTJyMGd0OG8wBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRtc2dJZAMxNjA1MgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzE0NjIxNDY2ODc-?act=reply&messageNum=16052> > • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ebirdsnyc/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNTEzdmViBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0NjIxNDY2ODc-> > • Messages in this topic > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ebirdsnyc/conversations/topics/16052;_ylc=X3oDMTM3YWJjaHR2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRtc2dJZAMxNjA1MgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0NjIxNDY2ODcEdHBjSWQDMTYwNTI-> > (1) > ------------------------------ > Upgrade your account with the latest Yahoo Mail app > <https://yho.com/1wwmgg> > Get organized with the fast and easy-to-use Yahoo Mail app. Upgrade today! > ------------------------------ > ebirdsnyc: bird sightings from the NYC area > Visit Your Group > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ebirdsnyc/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmczdpYzRsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0NjIxNDY2ODc-> > > - New Members > > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ebirdsnyc/members/all;_ylc=X3oDMTJnZGE1aW5sBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxNDYyMTQ2Njg3> > 5 > > [image: Yahoo! Groups] > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaDMycHE4BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzEzMzM2MzUwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ2MjE0NjY4Nw--> > • Privacy <https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> • > Unsubscribe • Terms of Use > <https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> > > . > > __,_._,___ > -- www.antbirder.blogspot.com www.aventuraargentina.com + 1 646 429 2667 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
