Plumage and songs of a putative hybrid between Hermit and Townsend’s warblers found in the Alberni valley, Vancouver Island in British Columbia

Douglas W. Innes and Marian Innes

2267 Stewart Avenue, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 3J1

Abstract: We compared the songs of Townsend’s and Hermit warblers with that of a putative hybrid. Only one of four different Townsend’s Warbler song types recorded in the Alberni Valley closely matched the putative hybrid’s song. This match was so close that differences could not be detected aurally by us, and sonograms were made of the closely matched songs for visual comparison. Playing back a recording of his own song to him brought an immediate reaction by the putative hybrid. Morphologically, the hybrid warbler appeared more similar to a Hermit Warbler in having only a faint yellow wash on the breast and limited flank streaking.

Key words: Dendroica occidentalis x Dendroica townsendi, Dendroica townsendi, elements, Hermit x Townsend’s Warbler, hybridization, kiloHertz, phrases, playback, song, syllables, Townsend’s Warbler, Vancouver Island

PDFicon Innes, D.W. and M. Innes. 1995. Plumage and song of a putative hybrid between Hermit and Townsend’s warblers found in the Alberni valley, Vancouver Island. British Columbia Birds 5:12-14.

 

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