Were photos taken of the second bird? Unless pics of an unambiguous Bell's Vireo are obtained I think that Occam's razor should be applied, that is, that the simplest explanation is likely the correct one. In this case I think the simplest explanation is that there is a juvenile White-eyed Vireo in a plumage most of us aren't used to which led to a misidentification.
I think that Dick Veit's photos from when he originally found the bird would be very helpful. Does anyone know where they can be found? If those images show a bird that looks like the White-eyed Vireo then I think this whole question can be answered because I find it highly unlikely that a Bell's Vireo would happen to show up in the exact location that a White-eyed Vireo was misidentified as a Bell's Vireo. Anyway, that's my two cents and I have appreciated this opportunity to delve deeply into vireo identification. I have learned a lot. Good Birding, Corey Finger http://10000birds.com ________________________________ From: Elizabeth D Poole <[email protected]> To: [email protected] 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 <[email protected]> To: NYSBIRDS-L <[email protected]> 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 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
