I am not positive what this bird is so if anyone can help me - please! I did send the photo to Merlin through the app and Merlin IDed it as a Tennessee Warbler. When you are looking at the 2 photos I have included, keep in mind, this bird was in the shade amongst all those leaves when I took its photo - the only time I actually saw it. The rest of the time, I could track where it was because the leaves were moving. And I did use the computer to lighten the first photo.
I disagree with Merlin's ID - I do not think this is a Tennessee Warbler. Let me explain my thought process. Looking at my Sibley's field guide, the range map shows this warbler does migrate through Illinois and that it is 'Common'. And I do agree with that as I have seen them here. But I don't think this bird is a warbler. It was not flitting around as warblers do - all that nervous, determined energy. This bird was slower and more deliberate. I think it is a vireo. Notice in the second photo, the beak is more long and slender - this is the sort of beak most vireos have. Warblers beaks are more often shorter.
I am also looking at that dark stripe at the eye. The Red-eyed Vireo has one and the Tennessee Warbler does not - at least not one that is as obvious.
Based on those observations - and also knowing the birds that have migrated through here in the past - my first guess is the Red-eyed Vireo and my second is Bell's Vireo.
The Red-eyed Vireo's range map shows this bird is a resident in central Illinois in spring and summer, but we generally do not have them here in our yard. I think that is because this is a woodland bird and we have more of a savanna. Even though we have a good number of big trees and lots of shade - as you can see on the birdfeeder cam - we do not have enough trees for this to be a woodland. Nor do our neighbors. We do get Red-eyed Vireos here in the yard, but only in migration. And this is a 'Common' bird. Bell's Vireo is an 'Uncommon' bird and from what I have researched, its numbers are in serious decline. But that said, we have had one or two every few years in migration and I am always thrilled to see them. However, another reason to ID this as the Red-eyed and not Bell's is when we have had Bell's, they were always in the lower branches or in the top of the thick undergrowth under our trees along the shore of the lake. I took this photo through the window while I was sitting at my desk on the second floor of our house - this bird was at my eye level in the big oak tree that is right outside my window. So this bird was higher up than I have ever seen the Bell's. And the Red-eyed Vireo is a bird of the middle to upper treetops.
One more reason to choose Red-eyed over Bell's is that dark eye stripe. Bell's might have one, but in my experience, it can be difficult to see - the eye stripe on this bird was obvious. However, keep in mind it is fall, birds are molting, and juveniles can have all sorts of weird things going on with their feathers.
Taking all this into consideration, my best guess is this is a Red-eyed Vireo. But I am not positive, so am open to any other thoughts as to its ID. If you do have an idea, I would love to hear it - and why.
Migration is a wonderful time for birding- you never know who you might see - and where! But remember, as much as we birders enjoy all this variety, migration is a serious and often deadly business for birds. When you see one or a flock in migration, give them your best wishes for a safe journey. Linda
I am not positive what this bird is so if anyone can help me - please! I did send the photo to Merlin through the app and Merlin IDed it as a Tennessee Warbler. When you are looking at the 2 photos I have included, keep in mind, this bird was in the shade amongst all those leaves when I took its photo - the only time I actually saw it. The rest of the time, I could track where it was because the leaves were moving. And I did use the computer to lighten the first photo.
I disagree with Merlin's ID - I do not think this is a Tennessee Warbler. Let me explain my thought process. Looking at my Sibley's field guide, the range map shows this warbler does migrate through Illinois and that it is 'Common'. And I do agree with that as I have seen them here. But I don't think this bird is a warbler. It was not flitting around as warblers do - all that nervous, determined energy. This bird was slower and more deliberate. I think it is a vireo. Notice in the second photo, the beak is more long and slender - this is the sort of beak most vireos have. Warblers beaks are more often shorter.
I am also looking at that dark stripe at the eye. The Red-eyed Vireo has one and the Tennessee Warbler does not - at least not one that is as obvious.
Based on those observations - and also knowing the birds that have migrated through here in the past - my first guess is the Red-eyed Vireo and my second is Bell's Vireo.
The Red-eyed Vireo's range map shows this bird is a resident in central Illinois in spring and summer, but we generally do not have them here in our yard. I think that is because this is a woodland bird and we have more of a savanna. Even though we have a good number of big trees and lots of shade - as you can see on the birdfeeder cam - we do not have enough trees for this to be a woodland. Nor do our neighbors. We do get Red-eyed Vireos here in the yard, but only in migration. And this is a 'Common' bird. Bell's Vireo is an 'Uncommon' bird and from what I have researched, its numbers are in serious decline. But that said, we have had one or two every few years in migration and I am always thrilled to see them. However, another reason to ID this as the Red-eyed and not Bell's is when we have had Bell's, they were always in the lower branches or in the top of the thick undergrowth under our trees along the shore of the lake. I took this photo through the window while I was sitting at my desk on the second floor of our house - this bird was at my eye level in the big oak tree that is right outside my window. So this bird was higher up than I have ever seen the Bell's. And the Red-eyed Vireo is a bird of the middle to upper treetops.
One more reason to choose Red-eyed over Bell's is that dark eye stripe. Bell's might have one, but in my experience, it can be difficult to see - the eye stripe on this bird was obvious. However, keep in mind it is fall, birds are molting, and juveniles can have all sorts of weird things going on with their feathers.
Taking all this into consideration, my best guess is this is a Red-eyed Vireo. But I am not positive, so am open to any other thoughts as to its ID. If you do have an idea, I would love to hear it - and why.
Migration is a wonderful time for birding- you never know who you might see - and where! But remember, as much as we birders enjoy all this variety, migration is a serious and often deadly business for birds. When you see one or a flock in migration, give them your best wishes for a safe journey. Linda
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