Posted by Evan Obercian (168.191.62.60) on July 10, 2000 at 12:12:06:
The vireo does not strike me as a Philadelphia at all. In particular, the broad eye arcs give the bird the wide-eyed expression I associate with Warbling. I think the apparent dark lores could be partly from shadow, although I have often seen Warblings with darkish lores. The quiz bird does not display the neat, black TRANSocular (ie, dark lores as well as post-ocular stripe) typical of Philly. The lores are never what I look at first when dealing with a fall vireo; instead I look at overall facial expression - Philly has a serious countenance while Warbling looks more innocent and curious. Then I look to see if the dark lores are part of a complete transocular stripe, which in the case of the quiz bird they are not (there is no more than a suggestion of a line behind the eye). Finally, I look at underpart coloration and distrubution of yellow (the first thing I look at on some individuals). The quiz bird seems brightest along the flanks, again favoring Warbling. The apperently small bill and overall Phillyesque look has me leaning towards Swainson's Vireo, to get more technical.
The sparrow is quite obviously a juv Chipping, though perhaps especially boldly marked.
Good birding/surfing.