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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Black-and-white and not red-all-over

I haven't had much time to catch up with fall migrants this year, but here are a few quick shots for the record.  These are the first pictures I've taken of these species on Bodega Head: 


Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia), Owl Canyon, 24 August 2014



And here's one from the Bodega Marine Lab parking lot yesterday, 12 September 2014: 


This is an immature American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla).  It was very active and didn't come out in the open, but below are two more pictures: one of the fanned tail with bright yellow patches and another showing the yellow patches in the tail, wing, and along the sides of the breast. 



Both of these warblers are considered rare migrants on Bodega Head.

P.S.  Rather than gray with yellow patches (as in females and young males), adult male American Redstarts are black with orange patches.  The name "redstart" is a little misleading.  Although "start" comes from an old word for "tail," and therefore the name could refer to the adult male's red tail patches, the patches are more orange than red.

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