Blackpolls, Blackpolls, Blackpolls

We didn't band yesterday due to strong south winds that turned all of our nets into wind socks. Today was better, with less wind and a nice overcast for much of the morning. As I drove out to Fry's Landing, I opened the windows as soon as I came to the 25 mph speed limit out on the peninsula. Yellow Warblers usually dominate the morning chorus, but today the squeaky wheel song of the Blackpoll was just as common. We banded at least 20 of them and now that we're in the fourth week of May many of them were Second Year (SY) and After Second Year (ASY) females. I never realized how variable this species is in spring, but then I've never been in an area where I could band so many of them in one day.

In spring, male Blackpolls are pretty easy to identify.

Male Blackpoll

At a distance they look like chickadees, albeit long-winged streaky ones. This is what the common name refers to, the top of their head (the poll) is black.

There's no great difference between ASY and SY males.

ASY females are much streakier, show less black and have a greenish back.

ASY female

SY females are all over the place. (Note: I didn't do any enhancing of the following photos. If anything they may be a little undersaturated).

As you can see they range from very pale to really yellow.

The same holds for their backs.

There are two ways of looking at this confusing range of coloration. You can throw up your hands and give up on warblers in any season, spring or fall. Much better though is to call any streaky passerine in May an SY female Blackpoll Warbler. How are your birding companions going to prove you wrong?