Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler in a tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Here in northern Utah it isn’t often that Myrtle and Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warblers are found perched in the same tree but four days ago that is what happened to me. The Myrtle subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warblers are normally found in the eastern U.S. and Canada’s boreal forest while the Audubon’s subspecies is found the mountainous West. Having both subspecies in the same tree for me has never happened before.
I wish this Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler had been out in the open and where there weren’t shadows being cast onto it by the branches and leaves of the tree but this is the best image I took of it before it disappeared. It isn’t a great photo and it won’t make it into my photo galleries.
Note: The throat of this Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler is white.
Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler in early morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler photo was taken six minutes after I took the photo of the Myrtle in the same tree but it was closer to the ground. This is the subspecies I am used to seeing and photographing here in northern Utah.
Note: The throat of this Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler is yellow.
It would have been marvelous if both subspecies had been on the same branch at the same time but that is the stuff my birdy dreams are made of and most likely wouldn’t happen in my awakened moments. Still, I can dream, right?
Audubon’s and Myrtle Warblers were considered separate species for decades before being lumped together by the AOU in 1973, they may be split into two species again or at least there have been rumors about that for some time.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow-rumped Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
Well, that was a nice “find” sure makes for a good day.
I have seen a Myrtle, I thought if was an immature regular yellow-rumped.
These are both such besutiful little birds…lucky to have gotten them both…
Very cool to get both in the same tree — this time “2 in a bush” is the winner! 🙂 I find the composition of the first shot very soothing. There’s something about the shadow patterns that really speak to me.
Oh how I love the image of the yellow-rumped Warbler in the shadows! Maybe from a photographers view it’s not perfect but from mine it is for there are some who live in the shadows of protection. They are both spectacular Mia! By the way, there’s a good show on Netflix, Birders about the Rio Grande area of Texas and Mexico. Maybe you’ve been?
Nice
I like your pictures.
All I can say is that was a neat day to have both to photograph in the same tree!!
I have to admit that I was disappointed when the lumping occurred, and will be delighted if they separate them again.