Posted by Fix (206.13.45.172) on June 26, 2000 at 11:18:32:
To dispell the certain hex I placed upon myself by archly saying that the vireo was an instant Philadelphia, I will fill this lull in the thread by explaining my perceptions. I tend to look first directly at the face of a bird, because if I ultimately see nothing more, I have a lot to go on with initial impression. This shot shows a vireo with two distinctly-contrasting pale areas above and below the eye. Separating these is a complete dark ocular line. The supercillium is short, and is wedge-shaped, broadest directly above and behind the eye. Together with the dark-faced look, this imparts an inquisitive or vaguely myopic appearance I have come to associate with this species. This pale area also ends quite abruptly at its rear edge. Although the angle is oblique and therefore we see the head of the bird somewhat foreshortened, I still think the bill is short and small, suggesting Philly. I admit to possibly 'bending' this character in favor of PHVI since I already more or less concluded that's what it is. Although the lower part of the crown seems a bit in shadow (-?), the lower edge looks a bit duskier or darker than the top of the crown, again setting up a nice sharp contrast with the supercillium. Warbling Vireo also has a pale area above and below the eye, giving it a 'gaunt' or 'homely' aspect (and why can't field guide portraiture get this spot on?), BUT in Warbling these areas are less contrasting, particularly as there is no strong complete dark ocular line affording the contrast necessary to break these pale areas into two distinct spots. The bird also looks rather pot-bellied or chubby, a look I associate with Philadelphia Vireo and not Warbling. I am not especially troubled by the lack of appropriate yellow tones beneath, since this looks like an enlarged shot and my monitor doesn't show much yellow or even true green, for that matter. If this vireo has been ID'd by the observer as a Warbling, I would argue against that call since I see no real case to be made for that species and a strong case for Philly. Again, the old caveat of "we're not ID'ing a bird, we're toying with one image" must be trotted out. Steve shows his usual reserve which is why I'll never be caught playing poker with him. ;>] / DFx