Tunnel Vision II

What species of bird is this? If you are new to birding this may feel like a difficult question. Surprisingly, the choices are fairly limited. There are primarily two candidate species.

They are a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (RCKI) or a Hutton's Vireo (HUVI). We'll come back to this in a minute.

This week a friend and I ran into each other in the Arboretum. As we walked downhill, towards the Japanese Garden, we heard a bird song that I did not immediately recognize. (This happens most often in early Spring - when many months have passed since the last time I heard the male of some species doing his Spring song.) A moment later we saw this bird which resembled a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

The sound had come from high over our heads, while the bird was low and in front of us. I did not immediately assume a connection. To my credit, as the bird moved about the understory, I began to get an odd feeling. It was not moving with the extremely energetic pace of a Kinglet. 

Kinglets flutter and dart from one feeding opportunity to the next.  

In fact, the bird we were watching did not appear to be intensely searching for food. The slower pace helped me to realize that it might be a Hutton's Vireo. I started looking closer. I even wondered if the bird was looking for nesting material although I did not see it collect anything.

Here is a frontal comparison of the two species. (Since facial recognition is a critical human skill set, I have often wondered if a face-first approach to distinguishing bird species might be useful.)

On the left is the Hutton's Vireo and on the right is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. If you look close you can see a faint hint of the ruby color on top of the Kinglet's head (and also in the previous photo). These tiny marks of red indicate they are males.

Between the eyes the Vireo is much lighter in color, plus, it has a wider and lighter colored bill and its eyes are offset on the side of the head rather than pinched-in and closer to the bill like the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 

I checked a number of Ruby-crowned Kinglet (RCKI) photos with this same angle and the positioning of the eyes is consistently tighter than the Hutton's. This gives the RCKI an intense, hyper-focused appearance that fits well with its behavior.

By the way, both of these species are considered foliage-gleaning insectivores. I suspect their specific feeding methods may relate to the positioning of their eyes. Hutton's seem more likely to spot insects to their right or left while the RCKIs seem to be more focused on finding food directly in front of them.

This thought might even be extended to humans. Perhaps the many things we overlook happen in part because our eyes are forward-focused. We even have a common phrase that describes the concept, i.e. Tunnel Vision.

When we look at these two species from the side there are a few other distinguishing characteristics that become obvious. Here is a HUVI.

Here is a RCKI. 

The most conspicuous field mark is the location of the dark wing bar. On the HUVI the dark bar is between its white wing bars, while on the RCKI a similar dark mark is relatively farther from the head i.e. below its larger white wing bar. Less obvious is the break in the HUVI's white eye-ring, which is only broken at the top of the eye, while in the RCKI there are breaks at both the top and the bottom. Technically, we could call them eye-arcs instead of eye-rings.

The two bird species are very different in terms of migration and range. In Washington State the Hutton's live to the west of the Cascades year-round, while the Ruby-crowned Kinglets winter in our area but breed in the mountains - especially on the east side of the Cascades. 

In the big picture, the RCKIs migrate north and south all across North America while the HUVIs are primarily West Coast birds that migrate very little, if at all. Click on the following links to see dynamic weekly sightings from eBird.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hutton's Vireo

Returning to the bird in our initial photo we now notice the light-colored bill (not black like a RCKI) and the eye-ring, broken only on the top. The dark bar on the wing is not as obvious as it could be, but it certainly does not exist below the lower white wing bar like a RCKI. Since the Hutton's Vireo is the only Vireo in our area which has an eye-ring with a gap at the top, this must be a Hutton's.

I wonder if this particular bird is just reaching maturity. Its eye-ring seems narrower than the other Hutton's (pictured above) and its dark wing bar is a bit faint. While this could be individual variation I wonder if these markings become more defined as Hutton's Vireos mature.

Zooming in for a very close look we can see one more difference between these two species.

The upper bill of the Hutton's Vireo is hooked at the end...

...while the tiny, black bill of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet is not.

The question that really stumps me is, Why do these two species look so much alike? We could guess that their coloring makes great camouflage but there are many other well-camouflaged birds with different color schemes. Plus, having similar wing-bars and eye-rings implies to me that there must be some additional value to a very close resemblance. The only idea I can think of is the slower and slightly larger HUVI might gain a slightly faster reputation by looking like a RCKI. Still, I doubt many predators are going to avoid a feeding opportunity just because their prey looks fast. I guess this is just one of nature's mysteries that is waiting for a brighter mind than mine.

While discussing this with a friend, his insightful reply was, "Have you asked Dennis Paulson?" My response was, "Ah, That is a great idea!" Dennis is a renown, life-long ornithologist, the instructor for Seattle Audubon's Master Birder Class, and has an amazing worldwide knowledge of birds. 

Here is Dennis' thoughtful reply to this line of inquiry,

"Hi Larry,

If you look through the kinglets of the world and the vireos with wing bars of the world, I think you'd see that they all look somewhat similar, little olive-green to gray birds with wing bars (and there are similar birds in some other families-how about Empidonax? (i.e. Flycatchers)). So both groups have fixed on the color pattern over evolutionary time. And of course quite a few vireos have eye-rings or spectacles along with their wing bars, so that is a commonplace color pattern in this family. However, of the six kinglet species, five have black stripes of their head and a visibly colored crown except the Ruby-crowned, and that is interesting. So to me the kinglet is more likely to have evolved to resemble the vireo than the reverse.

On the other side of the coin, the vast majority of the kinglet's range is not inhabited by Hutton's Vireos, so I can't imagine the bird diverged from the other kinglets (the four Old World species aren't called kinglets) just to look like a Hutton's, as it is still moderately different from the other wing-barred vireos.

So my conclusion is that it is just a coincidence that they look so similar. Olive-green for camouflage and eye-rings to call attention to the eyes for social interactions, but as far as I know, no one has explained the evolution of wing bars.

But to cogitate a little further, there is a hypothesis that some passerine birds have evolved to look more similar to some other species, in others words a convergence of appearance by two unrelated species, when they are part of a multispecies feeding flock. I'm not sure if this posited anywhere outside of the neotropics, though. The idea here is that you're more likely to be inclined to flock with another bird that looks similar to you. This could be stretching it a little, as many, many species in these flocks are quite distinctive and look nothing like the others, so the hypotheses is not supported extremely well.

I think no one, brighter than either of us, can really speak with confidence on why they are so similar! It makes a good story locally, at least, definitely worth calling attention to.

Dennis

The rich and varied mysteries of nature surround us. Maybe the similarities of these two species are purely coincidental or maybe there is some unknown hidden subtlety waiting to be revealed via creative inspiration and meticulous research. 

By the way, the song that we heard was very similar to the first recording you can hear when you follow - This Link. This HUVI song is fairly unique and unlike a RCKI. It may be your easiest way to locate a HUVI in the Arboretum. Singing males are a sign that Spring, nest building, and eventually fledglings may be in our future - a welcome thought indeed!

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

Larry

ps: Maybe the scientific method is primarily a methodology for overcoming our Tunnel Vision. I sure hope it works.

Update:

A reader just contacted me to say she just found a Robin, who died in her yard, and appeared to be suffering from salmonella which can be spread via bird feeders. Please read the following from the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab: Salmonella. Cornell suggests, during outbreaks, removing bird feeders is to the greater benefit of the birds.

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

(By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.
Also, Jane Lundin has created a small package, with a lot of critical information that looks quite handy, and light, for backpacking in the mountains in Springtime. It is titled, Mountain Wildflowers of Washington.)

What type of plant is this? Is it native to Union Bay? 

Scroll down for the answer.

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Clematis: An invasive non-native vine that covers-over and shades-out native vegetation. I may not have the precise name for the seed heads shown - regardless the impact on native vegetation is obvious. This photo was taken on the southeast corner of Montlake Cut below Monty and Marsha's Bald Eagle nest. (By the way, good things are currently happening in the nest!) 

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

*******************

A few more photos:

HUVI or RCKI?

HUVI

Family Matters

Saturday, this Spotted Towhee landed, glanced over its shoulder, and then flew.

A moment later, this second one landed in almost the same location. How do these two birds differ? The sun and the clouds did not have time to move much, the only change in my camera settings was a slight focusing adjustment and my angle relative to the birds was virtually unchanged. The subtle differences in their coloring are realistically portrayed - not a photographic artifact.

The brownish back, on the first Towhee, indicates she is a female. The dark black back of the second one signals he is a male.

Being aware of their gender differences gave me the impression that the female bird was not quite ready to share the male's affection. She did not turn and aggressively chase him away, but she stayed a step ahead. Visually attractive, but just out of reach. Maybe there is work to be done, like nest building for instance, before she feels the timing is right.

Among the birds we see in our yards, a Spotted Towhee can look a lot like an American Robin. The dark back and the burnt-orange coloring look similar. However, the Towhee is smaller, has a shorter bill and a white expanse on the underside. The white on a Robin is harder to notice since it is primarily under the tail.

American Robins are somewhat similar to Spotted Towhees when it comes to the gender variation in their coloring. The female in the foreground is distinctly less vibrant than the male in the background. In the previous photo, you can also see the somewhat subtle difference between a male's black head and the grey-brown coloring of this female's head.

We see a similar situation with Varied Thrush. I wonder if it is because brown backs and heads blend-in better when a bird is sitting on a nest.

Once again the strongly contrasting, black markings indicate this bird is a male.

Dark-eyed Juncos provide one more similar example in another bird species that is often on the ground in around our homes. The male's vibrant dark hood provides an obvious contrast...

...while the female's grayish-black hood tends to more gently fade into the colors on her back and sides.

There are many species of birds where the males are far more brilliant than the females. Locally, the difference between the male and female Wood Ducks comes to mind. However, in the examples you have seen today, it is the subtlety of the differences that require us to pay close attention if we want a observe and understand the family dynamics in play. 

For example in the next few months, when you see two birds belonging to one of these four species in flight, you will now be able to validate the assumption that you are seeing a female being chased by a male. Potentially, even more interesting, is when and if the tables are turned.

For these, and many other species, we know it is to the female's advantage to blend in, particularly when incubating eggs or brooding her young on a nest. However, there is a third case where camouflage is equally important. 

Juvenile birds tend to be less sophisticated and far less aware of danger. They need all the help they can get to avoid predators and to side-step conflict and confrontations with adult birds.

Watching juvenile birds as they follow their parents, beg for food and learn to survive on their own is incredibly entertaining. Sometimes, they may even remind us of our own youthful missteps. However, if you want to fully enjoy this natural entertainment, as it happens in your yard, being able to identify the following juvenile birds will help. (Technically, only three of these species are likely to have their young in the city.)

In any case, if you are up for the challenge try to correctly identify the species of the following four young birds. They each belong to one of the species mentioned above. 

A)

B)

C)

D)

The answers will follow the Going Native section below.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

Larry

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

(By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.
Also, Jane Lundin has created a small package, with a lot of critical information that looks quite handy, and light, for backpacking in the mountains in Springtime. It is titled, Mountain Wildflowers of Washington.)

What type of plant, with these little reddish buds, is this? Is it native to Union Bay? What will its flowers look like?

Scroll down for the answer.

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Salal: It may take another two or three months before the native Salal will fully display its elegant rows of tiny white blooms.

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Juvenile Answers:

A hint for your first answer.

A) Dark-eyed Junco - DEJU - Ground nesters, easily preyed on by house cats.

B) Spotted Towhee - SPTO - Often ground nesters, easily preyed on by house cats.

C) American Robin - AMRO - Tree nesters, a bit less easily preyed on by house cats however our urban American Crows love to raid their nests just before the young fledge.

D) Varied Thrush  - VATH  - Tree nesters, that nest out of range for most house cats and urban Crows. The VATH will be leaving us soon. They will head for the privacy of more elevated and forested areas to build their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young.

********************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 
My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

A few more photos:

Can you spot the Varied Thrush?

****************

(Look right in the middle of the photo)

A few more photos of American Robin family members:

Juvenile

Male

Female

A Chickaree Resurgence

This photo was taken near Port Townsend in May of 2019. 

Chickarees are native to the Pacific Northwest. Their name is apparently inspired by the sounds they make. They can also be called Pine Squirrels because of they prefer the seeds of coniferous trees. However, "Douglas Squirrels" is their most common name. It was given in honor of David Douglas. He documented nature in the PNW in the early 1800s. However, given that the squirrels, as well as Native Americans, have been here for thousands of years I suspect there must be a more ancient and appropriate name. So far, I have found this wonderful Lushootseed language website which provides a general name for squirrels but not a unique name - just for Chickarees.

The squirrels we commonly see in our area of Seattle are Eastern Gray Squirrels. In this September 2019 photo, taken at the northern end of the Arboretum, three Eastern Gray Squirrels were circling and chasing each other in and around this den where, I suspect, they were born. 

Eastern Gray Squirrels were introduced in Seattle in 1925. They are significantly larger than the Chickarees. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife mentions that typically in 5 to 10 years after introduction Eastern Gray Squirrels tend to displace native NW squirrels. Early in 2019, after living in Montlake for over thirty years, I had no memory of ever seeing any native squirrels in my neighborhood - which includes the Arboretum.

Later in the year, I was happily surprised when my friend Kathy mentioned she saw a Douglas Squirrel in the south end of the Arboretum. Her sighting helped to breath life into my dream of a local flourishing native ecosystem inside the City of Seattle. 

In the Spring of 2020, the dream continued to grow when I finally saw and photographed a Douglas Squirrel in the Arboretum. 

Depending on the time of year a Chickaree's coat can be primarily gray or heavily interspersed with a reddish-brown. However, the underside is always a more or less faint yellowish-orange.

This contrasts with the pure white on the underside of the larger Eastern Gray Squirrels,

  

If one looks close you can observe that Douglas Squirrels have small tufts of hair on the tops of their ears - unlike the Eastern Grays. Not only are the Chickarees smaller, their tails often appear significantly thinner as well.

When I saw two Douglas Squirrels in the Spruce trees just north of the Sorbus collection I became very excited. I was hoping for reproduction and a Chickaree reclaiming of the at least part of the Arboretum. 

Around that time, while watching a Douglas Squirrel I noticed a Northern Flicker on top of a dead snag. Speaking of snags, Chickarees often nest in old woodpecker nests or natural hollows in trees. Like many other creatures they need us to leave the dead trees standing whenever possible. Due to the softening of the wood, dead trees often contain the most promising nest sites. A Chickaree near the base of the snag noticed the woodpecker as well.

In a surprising show of confidence the Chickaree worked its way to the top of the snag to investigate.

The Flicker choose not to argue. It took to the air and left the snag to the Chickaree.

Looking back and realizing how often I saw the Chickarees in this area I suppose its mild aggression was actually a demonstration of territorial ownership.

Sadly, later in the year my friend Tom informed me he spotted the carcass of a Douglas Squirrel in the same area. That is not surprising since as of 2020 there were multiple predators in the area. For example:

 

...Barred Owls... 

...Common Ravens (four times heavier than a crow) ... 

...and Cooper's Hawks.

Plus, the quiet Coyotes would happily add a squirrel to their menu and...

...in 2020, I even saw a Long Tailed-Weasel in the neighborhood. A Chickaree might be too big for the Weasel (or maybe not), but even if so, the Weasel would be highly attracted to the young in a Chickaree nest.

This weekend I did a little online research on the history of Montlake. I found a photo that shows the area and the caption that states the land was virtually cleared of the huge, ancient, cone-bearing trees, that would have supported the original Chickaree population, in 1896. (Click Here and scroll down to page 16 to see the photo.) 

It is appropriate that the small native Chickarees prefer the tiny seeds from coniferous tree, while larger Eastern Gray Squirrels prefer the fruit, nuts and acorns from deciduous trees. However, when we add in the introduction of the larger Eastern Gray Squirrels and an Arboretum full of predators it becomes a bit difficult to imagine the Chickarees making a come back.

However, the Chickarees have a secret weapon - their confidence. On Christmas Day, 2020 as I walking among the Spruce and Sequoia trees north of the Wilcox Bridge, I saw two squirrels running full-speed across the ground. When I looked closely I saw the first was an Eastern Gray Squirrel. The darker smaller streak, close on its tail, chased it to the base of a conifer and stopped. The Eastern Gray escaped to the canopy above. I stared in amazement at the little Chickaree. I immediately concluded that with their tough, confident, Can-Do attitude the Chickarees are going to be OK here. They are tough enough to handle the competition and quick enough to usually avoid the predators.

I suspect the main factor enabling their return is a growing supply of food. The spindly little conifers left behind in 1896 and many of the collection conifers planted over the last 90 years have grown significantly. They have become much larger trees with cones full of seeds. I believe these coniferous seeds are now providing the food that maybe fueling a Chickaree resurgence.

Last week, in one 24 hour period, I saw Chickarees in three distinct areas within the Arboretum:

West of the Pacific Connections under the Pacific Silver Firs, 

North of the Sorbus Trees among the Spruce collection and... 

... in the Pinetum. 

It is wonderful to see them returning. Watching them is a healing salve for a weary soul. 

I believe that knowing and treasuring our native lifeforms is a responsibility of everyone who breathes the air - supplied primarily by our native conifers - and drinks the water fresh from the Cascade Mountains. By welcoming the native life in the city we provide future generations an invaluable daily connection to these ancient lifeforms. 

Imagine a future when all the children of Seattle get to experience the joy of sunlight piercing a cathedral of ancient evergreens, the spongy feel of needles beneath their feet and the delight of viewing native fish in a clean Seattle stream. (Click Here to learn more about the vision shared by the Friends of Arboretum Creek.)

Imagine our children knowing, from an early age, the deep and distant "graak" of a Raven passing over, the melodic sound of Bald Eagles defending their territory and...

...the exasperated scolding of native Chickarees when they are disturbed. 

It is truly amazing to have all of this life in a free city park like the Arboretum. Thank you to all of you have donated your time and/or funds to help the Arboretum continue!

Leaving the next generation a park, and hopefully a city, full of ancient and native lifeforms co-existing with humanity, is a truly amazing legacy.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

Larry

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, need to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

(By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.

Also, Jane Lundin has created a small package, with a lot of critical information that looks quite handy, and light, for backpacking in the mountains in Springtime. It is titled, Mountain Wildflowers of Washington.)

Not counting the Eastern Gray Squirrels, which of the other species shown above was not here when David Douglas visited the Pacific Northwest - circa 1826.

Scroll down for the answer.

***************

Barred Owl: "Immigrant from eastern U.S. First documented in Washington in 1973; first reported nest in Discovery Park in 1982." This information was found on the Urban Raptor Conservancy website. 

**************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 
My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

One more photo: