Date: 11/30/25 6:12 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Azalea Park "Solitary" Vireo ID
As has been posted earlier today, in Azalea Park (near where highways 15 and 805 cross) in addition to a briefly seen/photo'd AM Black-thr Green Warbler (John Bruin), a Solitary-type Vireo was present off and on (more off than on) for a bunch of hours in the park as well. Both birds were in the northeast part of the park (bordering a "garden" area) in the AM and again for the vireo mid-day, but then the vireo went MIA for a solid couple hours until being re-found quite a ways lower in the park, beyond the rec center building and kiddie playground--lat-long coordinates for all these sightings given in posts to the listserv earlier today by Bruin and Ruby. I was there for several hours, with a bunch of other folks, finally getting to study the vireo, and I went back and forth on what species I thought it probably was (ditto when looking at the first set of photos) depending on whether the bird is in shade (good head/throat contrast and darker blue-gray head) or in brighter, direct sun (somewhat more washed-out gray head and less contrast). In all cases, there was extensive bright yellow and some olive on the entire sides, and with close inspection it was shown that there is extensive white to the edge of the outer tail feather (visible in good photos on the underside of the tail)--two characters favoring Blue-headed. I then sent multiple series of photos taken by several folks to several vireo experts for additional opinions. Ageing the bird is also important, and so far one authority (Pyle) has aged it as an adult. Three additional folks (Bevier, Dunn, and Marantz) all believe the bird is a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, mostly based on outer tail feather pattern and, secondarily, on the brightness of the sides. Head color and head/throat contrast seems probably to be in the overlap zone between female Blue-headed and male Cassin's, and, again, can vary depending on the lighting.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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