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Photo Quiz 4 Did you get it right? See the names of correct responders, below... |
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| Photo Quiz #4. |
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What is this grayish bird with yellow on the chest? Most people figured it out correctly. The vent and belly are white. There is a hint of an eyering. The edges of the primaries and base of the tail show an edging of green. In fact, there is a faint green wash across the back, nape, and crown. The wings are very short. The tail is rather long.
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| Yellow-breasted Chat. Photo by Greg Gillson |
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This Yellow-breasted Chat was photographed by the author at Hagg Lake on 10 July 2004, as some anonymous smarty-pants submitted on their quiz answer form, after searching through my online photo archive. Next time this mystery person will not find it so easy--I'm using someone else's photo! As expected, most people identified this bird. Yes, I can see how one might guess female American Redstart. The quiz bird is just too plain, however,... and too long-tailed for a redstart. Other similar birds that respondents reported eliminating included Nashville Warbler, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Golden-crowned Warbler. Interestingly, the subspecies of Yellow-breasted Chat found in the West (Western Chat (formerly Long-tailed Chat) Icteria virens auricollis) has grayer upperparts and more deeply yellow underparts than the Eastern nominate form (I.v. virens). The first of these birds arrive in Oregon about the second week of May. The males sing through the day and night with cackles, whistles, and crow-like caws, often giving this "song" by flying up in the air a few feet from a small tree and dangling his feet. Guesses: Correct responses, in order received:
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