Ornithology question

[alexxkay]

I wouldn't call myself a bird-watcher, but I occasionally notice them flying by. And over the last few months, I have seen, several times, a type of bird previously unknown to me. I wonder if it is a new arrival to the region?

It is about the size of a sparrow or a chickadee. It has extremely distinctive markings, though I lack the specialized vocabulary to describe them. Coloration is black and white, in sharply demarcated areas (not exactly stripes), no gray that I could see. I have never seen them in flocks, but half or more of the times I've seen them, there has been a pair flying around together.

Has anyone else seen these? Any idea what they are?

Comments

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

Like so?: http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/248/overview/Black-and-white_Warbler.aspx

If not, you can click the "right bird" link at the top of the page, and it will walk you through the process of trying to identify it.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

Mmmaybe. My (porous) memory thinks that the distinctions between the black and white areas were much sharper than in those pictures. But the patterns are at least similar. Will report back next time I see one.

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

It might be worth going through the rightbird identification process... each selection critera (size, location, color, etc) will narrow down the list of birds, and when it gets to a manageable size list you can just flip through and see if any of them look familiar.

[jjaynes.livejournal.com]

In my Audobon bird guide, the photo of the black and white warbler shows the black and white parts very distinct from each other, except right around the neck there's a bit more blending. It looks more like the flying bird on that page than the blurrier sitting one up front.

The field guide, which purports to cover eastern North America, has no other bird even resembling the warbler. There are a few mostly black birds with a couple large white markings, like a bobolink (http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/566/overview/Bobolink.aspx). The linked pic shows a breeding male, in non-breeding males that yellow nape is white instead. It's also 6-8" instead of the warbler's 5".

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

Definitely not a Bobolink. The B&W Warbler is looking like the answer. I'm just a bit surprised that, if they are native to this area, I've never seen them before now, and then suddenly I do see them. Maybe some change in the local micro-habitat...

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Downy woodpecker?

Do you see them on trees/fenceposts, or on the ground?

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

I see them in both sorts of places.

(googles...) Nope. They have a vivid red spot on the top of their heads. What I've been seeing is completely monochrome.