RE: [cobirds] Boulder Wren

COBirders,

 

Regarding the wren in Boulder, my photos can be seen here: http://www.pbase.com/hopko/wren

-------------------

Rachel Hopper

Ft. Collins, CO

 

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Steven Mlodinow
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 5:39 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Boulder Wren

 

Greetings All

 

The Pacific Wren at Sawhill Ponds, Boulder... well... may not be. At least, in my opinion. I am sure others will disagree. The call is spot-on for Pacific, wrong for Winter, both by human ears and sonogram. However, the visual phenotype fits Winter Wren better, especially the heavy white spotting on wings and barring on back. I've shared photos of this bird with a couple nationally renowned birders who have expressed doubt as to its ID. As its call is that of a Pacific Wren, one wonders about a hybrid. The birds are in contact in that evil zone of species and subspecies mixing in NE BC and Alberta. As with other closely related species (eg, BH and Cassin's Vireo, RN and YB Sapsucker, Mourning and MacGillivray's Warbler) in that area, hybridization undoubtedly occurs, and we should be right in the line of those birds' migratory movements. 

 

In any case, I don't claim to know anything, but I would be wary of labelling this bird a Pacific Wren. I hold Ted Floyd, its finder, in great respect, and this is by no means an attempt to assault his exceptional birding skills and caution.

 

Best Wishes

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

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