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Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica)
Above: A Yellow-throated Warbler at the Mouth of the Monacacy, Frederick Co., Maryland (5/20/2007). Yellow-throated Warblers nesting in this area are of the White-lored or Sycamore race, Dendroica dominica albilora. Below: A Yellow-throated Warbler (Yellow-lored subspecies, D. d. dominica) finishing bathing in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/27/2007). Unlike the western shore's Sycamore-loving subspecies, the Eastern Shore's Yellow-throated Warblers are Loblolly Pine specialists. This species is very rare in the county.
Below: A typical dominica Yellow-throated Warbler in Charles Co., Maryland (5/9/2009). Note the yellow lore, the yellow throat with no white 'chin,' and the long bill. This bird was singing on territory in the Nanjemoy area of Charles Co., Maryland, where it is the expected breeding subspecies (5/9/2009).
Below two: A Yellow-throated Warbler photographed in the Nassawango area of Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/26/2009). This individual first attracted our attention as it was gathering spider webs from tree trunks as nesting material. While studying it, we noted that it had white lores, which are associated with our western shore, sycamore-loving subspecies, albilora. Review of the photos showed that the bird had an exceptionally large bill, which is associated with the dominica subspecies (especially so on the Delmarva Peninsula). Consensus when I sent around these photos was that it was the exception to the field mark rule--a white-lored, white-chinned dominica. As is nearly always the case, structure trumps plumage. Exceptions might be more common than expected. It seems that field identifications to subspecies are not always safe.
Below: Here is another Yellow-throated Warbler photographed in the Nanjemoy area of Charles Co., Maryland (5/9/2009). While the expected subspecies here is dominica, this bird has what appears to be a tiny bill. That said, it does show some yellow in the lores and does not show a white chin.
Below: A migrant Sycamore Yellow-throated Warbler (D. d. albilora) at Elms Park in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/4/2008). The breeding subspecies in this area is the nominate dominica, which was well-represented on territories nearby. This individual was moving through mixed woods with a migrant flock. Detecting clear migrant Yellow-throated Warblers is rare in the state, and this was our first observation of an albilora in dominica country. Note the white lores in the first photo versus the yellow lores in the second.
For comparison purposes, here is a breeding dominica Yellow-throated Warbler in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/3/2008).
Below: A migrant Sycamore Yellow-throated Warbler (D. d. albilora) in Charles Co., Maryland (9/7/2008). The breeding subspecies in this area is the nominate dominica, which favors areas of Loblolly Pine. Detecting Yellow-throated Warblers outside of their breeding range is rare in the state, and this was my second observation of an albilora in dominica country. My previous sighting was this spring at Elms Park in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/4/2008). Note in particular the clean white lores on this individual. Photographing the Sycamore-loving subspecies perched in a Loblolly Pine is quite novel.
Below: A Yellow-throated Warbler in a bald cypress swamp in Wicomico Co., Maryland (5/14/2010).
Below: A Yellow-throated Warbler wintering in Charles Co., Maryland (1/1/2009).
