Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Rufous-Capped Warbler

There have been persistent reports of a group of Rufous-Capped Warblers in the Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains since December of 2011. This unusual visitor from Mexico turns up every few years, but this year they seem to be pretty established in the canyon. They were one of the prime targets of the BiF road trip to southeastern Arizona, and were also among the first and most beautiful birds we saw.

They began their morning foraging with first light. While they did not seem to mind our presence at all. they didn't stay put for very long. Their flighty behavior combined with the dim lighting to make photography tricky, but it did make for a great sighting.


I haven't seen that many Warblers yet, but I imagine that when I die at the ripe old age of 165, having seen every bird in the world, these Rufous-Capped Warblers will still be among the most visually captivating birds I've observed.


6 comments:

  1. Indeed. Those warblers were among some of the coolest looking I've seen. Some day we need to make a BiF! Trip to The Biggest Week in Ohio. We could really enjoy a plethora of hot looking warblers there.

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  2. Fantastic bird. That and Red-faced are the two warblers I most want to see whenever we finally make it west. I've got no cause to complain out here, though, obviously. Prothonotaries nest in Savannah, which is maybe the number one thing I'm looking forward to for Spring. It's almost time!

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    Replies
    1. That's great Nicholas! I've got the Rufous-Capped and Red-Faced now, and the Olive. I really want to see the Prothonotary and Blackburnian over on your side. We'll have to do a trading places episode.
      thanks for stopping by.

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  3. A very nice site and great photos. Thanks.

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