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Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> San Luis Obispo County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in San Luis Obispo County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN36231 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
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Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 16, 2026 08:31 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322643425 - Comments: "Female/imm male. High-pitched call notes, tiny in stature, paler overall than an imm/fem rufous/allen’s, but with a paler green back and brighter-toned but still pale orange wash on flanks. Also, a short straight bill and short tail. This bird was not associating with other hummers and was flitting in a tree in the northwest area of the park. Close to where the water crosses the path—maybe twenty yards to the east. The bird landed twice while I was trying to get the sun to my back for a better photo angle. No luck. Bird darted eastward. This was at the end of my walk—wasn’t up to the chase—my dogs were barkin’."
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (1)
- Reported Apr 16, 2026 10:00 by Kaaren Perry
- Morro Bay yard, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.844846&<ll...>,-120.844846 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322584590 - Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Small bright yellow female oriole, short tail and short bill. Last reported at this location April 6, 2026. Noticed foraging deep in Catalina Cherry before pausing for a brief perch on fence. Later seen drinking at water feature and perched wire."
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 16, 2026 08:31 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322643425 - Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing lady bird. Pale throat, black and white patterned, branch and trunk crawling behavior, black spots on white undertail coverts. Near Casa Diablo. Photo"
Nashville Warbler (ridgwayi) (Leiothlypis ruficapilla ridgwayi) (1)
- Reported Apr 16, 2026 08:31 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322643425 - Comments: "Nashville with gray wash deep onto mantle. I was thinking about this western subspecies today in particular since a Canada Warbler was reported yesterday. I asked myself while wandering to the park, could a Rigwayi easily be mistaken for a Canada Warbler? I had a sneaky suspicion that the answer could be an unexpected, Yes! But what field marks might get confused between the two, especially on a breezy day like today? It was while examining my second Nashville of the morning where I was really able to answer my own questions. Similar to a Canada, I did first see a yellow throat, followed by a dark grey head and bright white eyering. Then I noted a dark grey upper back. And since the bird wasn’t fully revealing itself in the oak where I spotted it, I noted how one could think, possible Canada, especially if one forgets about the prominent yellow lores of a Canada. Either way, I wouldn’t convince myself just yet, especially if not recalling the lore fieldmark. I would want two things: one, to eliminate the expected Nashy migrant, and two, to find more Canada field marks. So I asked myself what about the reported light streaks on the neck? What might I see? I did note that even though the chest and neck were bright yellow, one could easily mistake the layering of feathers and shadows between them as light streaking. It was a sort of illusion of the incantador, and in this case, a bird magician fooling me for possibly peering too long at that neck area perhaps. An easy duping of the birder, really, especially since the bird wasn’t in the open or available via crystal ball or scrying mirror. I see what I think I see, but also should be aware of the tricksy nature of bird identification. So I asked myself what else could and should be noted to separate the two species? For me, if I see a yellow underside (or any color really) I want to immediately note whether or not the bird has white undertail coverts. Even if I never note a Nashville’s green wings and green lower back (I can see how a mind can easily be tricked yet again by the elusive avian muse into thinking grey upperparts), especially in late afternoon light, which on a windy day would also cause a bird’s plumage to possibly be filled with shadows, I could still hopefully uncover the ID mystery, especially one that requires a burden of proof beyond a holistic approach—because eventually specifics are required. The Ridgwayi has a bright yellow underside, yes, but also a white patch on the belly (not always instantly observable, okay) but also has bright yellow undertail coverts. So while shadows can trick one about neck streaking, wing coloration, and even lower back coloration, those bright white undertail coverts should be a required viewing when one is possibly being duped by shadowy neck streaks. And in the case of the Rigwayi I was viewing: yellow undertail coverts. And so, yeah, while part of my mind wished there could be a Canada Warbler (and yet there could be, right?) I was more in the mind of exploring how a birder could be fooled by the western Nashville subspecies into thinking, Canada. No photo."
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) (Setophaga coronata coronata x auduboni) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Apr 16, 2026 08:31 by Nick & Jane
- Meadow Park--San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-120.6606531&<ll...>,-120.6606531 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322643425 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Expected intergrade. Expanding my birding horizons into now searching for these commonish hybrids. The mystery birder a few days ago related field marks I should be on the hunt for, and in this case included a wide yellow throat, where white on the sides of the throat stretched into a myrtlish smile onto neck sides, a pale supercilium, and black mask from lores extending back onto entire cheek. Brighter wingbars than an audubon’s, less messy than a myrtle. Thanks, mystery birder, this is my first ID! Photo."
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