Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk, by Steve Thornhill

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Vireo at Kiptopeke

This bird, injured or ill, was at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch on Oct 18th. Photos are posted here, back, side, front and head close-up, so that others may send opinions to taberzz@aol.com

The features of Cassin's Vireo and Blue-headed Vireo make this identification challenging. Key features include the head and back color, throat/malar contrast, lores and supraloral coloration and definition. Yellow on the sides is variable in both species. One researcher so far, with access to museum study skins, has done an evaluation and thinks the features point to Cassin's.
Brian Taber