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 <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Richard Veit <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Bell's Vireo There may have been 2 birds To: "Elizabeth D Poole" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> 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 <[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: 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/ --
