Posted by Mark Brown (204.48.169.252) on March 29, 2003 at 13:43:51:
At first I thought this was a Hutton's Vireo, but with repeated viewing it does not seem greenheaded or warm-plumaged enough and it does not seem "stocky" or plump enough. I do not see a loral spot either. The head is roundish, but... In 1988 this was a Solitary Vireo, now I think it is either a Plumbeous Vireo or a Cassin's Vireo. Probability birding there because I think Blue-headed Vireos are mostly seen in California in Fall and both of the others breed in California. There is an article in Birding about the split of theses birds and it discusses a worn spring phenomanom in confusing the two western species. Evidently there is little or no spring moult. The yellowy wash on the belly of this bird is I think good for Cassin's also it is in a coast live oak where they breed. The cheek and throat contrast is weak, also good for Cassin's. Seems like a lot of white in the tail also??? I could be talked back to Hutton's, but it just does not look like the ones I see in the central coast. Don Roberson has info on Solitary complex on his website.