Monday, July 14, 2008

Arctic Warblers, Denali Highway - 06/16




One of about a dozen Arctic Warblers seen and heard along the Denali Highway from Cantwell to Tangle River. We also encountered similar numbers in Nome later in the tour. This bird was of interest, not only because it showed particularly well, but also because its white wing bar was reduced to just one to three white tipped greater coverts on both wings. Presumably, the odd bird in spring must lack visible white in the greater coverts altogether? This shouldn't be so much of a problem with singing birds in Alaska but what about none singing, out-of-range birds in the Old World? There must be huge potential for confusion between these and other members of the phylloscopus group.

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