Date: 8/14/25 1:20 pm From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Black-throated Blue Warbler, males, females, and immature all lack any
black streaking on the back, and also in the flanks. The hybrid has very
strong black back stripes that come close to matching that of a Myrtle, and
you can see some short black streaking on the flanks of the hybrid, which
Myrtles also show. So, it's mostly in the black streaking on the
hybrid that is the issue.
Harry LeGrand
On Thu, Aug 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM <badgerboy...> wrote:
> Not being very experienced with hybrids, I just wondered, after viewing
> the excellent photos on the CBC photo gallery, whether this might just be a
> full blooded Black-throated Blue Warbler with some male and some female
> plumage characteristics? The pocket handkerchief is shaped like a typical
> female BTBW's, the female BTBW has a fairly well defined supercilium like
> this bird, and otherwise it looks like a male BTBW that is missing some of
> its black on the throat and sides. Otherwise the brown smudges on the sides
> just below the wing remind me of a chestnut-sided. Like I said just asking
> and please refrain from abusive or sarcastic remarks-- I already know I'm a
> block-headed Irishman.
>
> Guy (McGrane, Boone NC)
> On 8/13/2025 12:29 PM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Jack and Kay (Grinnell). NOW we are getting somewhere! So, Jack
> has pointed out to us two eBird checklists that show the bird was reported
> on 5 February by Andy Jones and Bob Speare, and the earlier and more
> significant one on 2 February by the photographer, Mary Alice Tartler. As
> Kay has sent me her email address, I will send a message to Mary Alice (and
> Kay), hoping that she will post several of her photos to the eBird report.
> She already has several photos of a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on the
> eBird list:
>
> eBird Checklist - 2 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle - 19 species (+2 other
> taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S211892393> >
> and thus it seems hopeful that she can post photos on this eBird list, for
> permanent documentation. And, I will encourage her to add details in "new
> world warbler sp.", to indicate that the bird has been determined by
> experts to be a hybrid between Black-throated Blue Warbler and
> Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yes, the second eBird list says that:
>
> eBird Checklist - 5 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle (PRIVATE) - 23 species
> (+1 other taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S212105216> >
> but without a description or a photograph, there is no documentation for
> such a unique record.
>
> Harry LeGrand
>
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM <k.grinnell...> <
> <k.grinnell...> wrote:
>
>> Mary Alice and Harry,
>> I'm introducing you via this email.
>> MA, see email below.
>> Harry, Mary Alice is the birder who sighted this bird, and I believe she
>> is the best person to answer your questions.
>> Best Regards,
>> Kay Grinnell
>> (President, Hilton Head Audubon)
>>
>>
>> Kay Grinnell
>> <k.grinnell...>
>> 10 Pelican Watch Court
>> Hilton Head Island SC 29926
>> 843 597-3633 cell
>>
>>
>> ----- Forwarded Message -----
>> *From:* Harry LeGrand" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <
>> <carolinabirds...>
>> *To:* Will Cook <cwcook...>; Harry LeGrand <
>> <hlegrandjr...>
>> *Cc:* "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11:57:06 AM EDT
>> *Subject:* Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid
>> at Hilton Head, SC
>>
>> Will,
>>
>> Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting bird/record. I'm
>> currently working (i.e., struggling) on the Summer Briefs for *The Chat,*
>> but I can always include out-of-season records like this, so that it will
>> get into printed literature. It has now been added to my draft, which
>> right now is just into the waterfowl.
>>
>> I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the date
>> right now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a color photo in The
>> Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton Head Island
>> newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I suspect that most of us
>> will be unable to access this report.
>>
>> If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be
>> excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be helpful, as
>> this is too significant to just appear one time only in a town's
>> newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again.
>>
>> Harry LeGrand
>> Briefs for the Files editor
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook <cwcook...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> This bird was observed last winter, but the article is recent.
>>
>> https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/environment/article311621106.html >>
>> It doesn't appear to have been ebirded as far as I can tell.
>>
>> --
>> Will Cook - Durham, NChttp://www.carolinanature.com/
>>
>>
>
