Rare Bird Alert - Possible Prothonotary Warbler in Memorial Park ***** Identified as a Saffron Finch by Scott Barns of NJ Audubon.
I feel like such a killjoy, but I sent the picture to a couple of birding experts of my acquaintance -- and, sorry, but they do not believe it's a prothonotary, but probably (as we all thought at first) some sort of escaped cage bird. Said they needed a better view of the beak to make an ID. So please post those pictures, folks!
@iwasmim - Yes, a better view of the beak would be a clincher one way or another. That's why I wrote, "Possible Prothonotary.....
Not sure of the bird's size from the photo, but my birder spouse thinks it looks like a female tanager - most likely a summer tanager since that one is less "olive" tinged than the scarlet tanager females. Does someone know more about the size of the bird?
Here are two more photos. Unfortunately, none of these are decisive. I don't think it was a "cage bird." Bigger than an canary, definitely not a parakeet. It had a beak like a sparrow, not a finch. I thought it was a goldfinch at first, but it was slightly larger and rounder, with a little bit of rose on the head. It was smaller than a robin.
American Yellow Warbler?
http://amc-nh.org/resources/guides/birds/species-gallery.php?Species=Setophaga%20petechia
sac said:
Not sure of the bird's size from the photo, but my birder spouse thinks it looks like a female tanager - most likely a summer tanager since that one is less "olive" tinged than the scarlet tanager females. Does someone know more about the size of the bird?
I think it looks like a tanager too. Seems too big for a prothonotary, possibly too big for a tanager too. That would make me think escape.
Regarding Amer. Yellow Warbler, it doesn't seem to have the stripes on its breast.
Mystery solved! As some of you had guessed the bird is an escaped exotic - Just received this email from Scott Barns :
Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing this sighting. I think this bird is actually a Saffron Finch, which is a common cage bird that occasionally escapes into the wild.
Sincerely,
Scott
Scott Barnes
All Things Birds Program Director
Assistant Director, Eco-Travel
New Jersey Audubon
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This stems from a thread started by, Formerlyjerseyjack - titled, "For the bird watchers"- in the Senior Issues category, but I thought this deserved a thread of its own.
Formerlyjerseyjack's initial post wasn't about Prothonotary Warblers, but a few posts down in the thread, ktmccaff wrote that she had seen a little all yellow bird in Memorial Park, wondering what it might be. The bird was there again the next day and she was able to get and post a photograph. When I saw it, I was quite sure it was a Prothonotary Warbler. Some of you who know me, know that I am an avid birder and also that I moved to NC from Maplewood 8 years ago, so I was and am unable to go to the park to look for it. I contacted Joy Yagid, a long time fellow birder and she said she would seek it out with camera.
Finding a Prothonotary Warbler anywhere in NJ, even when and where they normally might be found is considered a "prize" find by Birdwatchers. Although the Prothonotary's breeding range has been expanding northward over the past 20 years or so, their habitat requirements restrict them to swamp lands and river bottoms; places where human intrusions are generally minimal. Being among the most beautiful and sought after birds, known Prothonotary Warbler's nesting territories are destinations for many avid Birders. So, finding one in December in Memorial Park is a pretty big deal.
Here's a link that will show and tell about this beautiful bird. Looking at its range, you'll see that it is not usually found anywhere in the US at this time of year.
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/prothonotary-warbler