GAMBELL, ALASKA, AUTUMN 2002: First North American Records of Warbler (Phylloscopustrochilus), (Sylvia curruca), and SpottedFlycatcher ( striata)

Paul E. Lehman ired theseislands each spring since about as Middendorff'sGrasshopper-Warbler the mid-1970s, and that these visits have (Locustellaochotensis), Siberian Accentor E0.Box 379 produced many first records of Asian (Prunellamontanella), and Little Bunting speciesfor North America.At Gambell, (Emberiza pusilia) are more likely to CapeMay, New Jersey 08204 the number of observersin spring has occur in Alaskaduring the fall than in increased.with many visitingthe village spring. The only two North American (eraall:[email protected] ) areaas participantson scheduledbirding recordsof Yellow-browedWarbler (Phyl- tours that generallylast about a week. loseopusinornatus) come from Gambell in Extensivedata now exist on the spring autumn 1999 and 2002 (Lehman 2000a, migration there. Coverageat Gambell 2000c, Tobish 2000a, 2003). A substan- ABSTRACT later in June--after most of the north- tially greaternumber of mainlandNorth This articlesummarizes records of single bound migrantshave passedthrough-- American breedingspecies wander west individualsof Willow Warbler(Phyllosco- has been very poor, however,despite or northwest out to the offshore islands in pustrochilus), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia good potential for unusual speciesto fall than in spring.These include a curruca),and SpottedFlycatcher (Musci- occur late in the season. numberof speciesnever reported in . capast•iata) al Gambell,Saint Lawrence In contrast,this region'sbirding out- At Gambell in just the past five years, Island,Alaska, all of which representfirst postshave receivedscant attention from examplesinclude Least Flycatcher (Empi- records for North America. An overview birders or ornithologistsin fall. South- donateminimus), Pacific-slope/Cordilleran of field conditions,migrant boundbird migrationthrough the Bering ("Western")Flycatcher (E. difficilis/occi- assemblages,and meteorologicalcontext Searegion stretches out overa morepro- dentalis),Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus), at Gambellis provided,along with brief tractedperiod than doesthe springpas- TennesseeWarbler ( Vermivoraperegrina) , discussionsof identification,, sage.The peak of southboundshorebird MagnoliaWarbler (Dendroicamagnolia), distribution, and vagrancyof the three migration (betweenJuly and early Sep- MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis new speciesfound here. More extensive tember) is largely over before most tolmiei), and Brown-headed Cowbird notes, physicaldocumentation, and dis- vagrantpasserines occur (late Augustto (Molothrus ater) (Tobish 1999. 2000a, cussions are archived with the Alaska mid-October). Thus, to be assured of see- 2002, 2003). Further,a goodunderstand- ChecklistCommittee at the Universityof ing a goodcross-section of transientsand ing of the sizablefall seabirdmovements Alaska Museum. a numberof Asianstrays during a single throughthe BeringSea is still in its fledg- visit, a birder typically must make a ling stage.Finally, autumn visits to west- OVERVIEW longertime commitmentin the autumn. ern Alaska provide the opportunityto The BeringSea region in westernAlaska The chancesof findinga vagranton any study and photograph a number of is well known to most North American givenday aretypically greater in late May speciesin juvenal and freshfall plumages birdersas the placeto go to find Asian and early-to-middleJune than in August, not normallyseen by manyNorth Ameri- migrantsand vagrants, Alaska specialties, September,or October.Another factor is can birders. and spectacularseabird concentrations. the increaseddifficulty in finding low- Most observers who have visited the densitymigrants and vagrantsin the rela- FallMigration at Gambell renowned birding destinationsof Attu tively lush vegetationof early fall. In Gambell,Alaska, is a SiberianYupik vil- Island (western Aleutian Islands), Saint spring, there is only sparsecover pro- lage on Saint LawrenceIsland and is Paul Island (Pribilof Islands), and Gam- videdby deadplants, and the remaining home to some700 people.It lies approx- bell (northwest corner of Saint Lawrence snow further concentratesmigrants to imately300 km (190 mi) west-southwest Island) have done so betweenmid-May thoseopen patches that havethawed. of Nome, and only 65 km (40 mi) from and earlyJune. In spring,there is a con- Despitethese drawbacks, fall birdingin the closestpoint on the ChukotskPenin- centrated"pulse • of arrivingbirds. As an muchof coastalAlaska can be thrilling.In sula on the Siberianmainland (Figure 1). additionalincentive, the springvagrant additionto the potentiallylarge number Within andbordering the villageare three seasons for waterfowl, shorebirds, and of regularmigrants, the compositionof major middensites (known by both the passefinessubstantially overlap. So it is Old World speciesin fall is differentfrom localresidents and visiting birders as "the not surprisingthat manybirders have vis- that of spring.For example,such boneyards"),as well asseveral other areas

4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS of disturbedground (Figure 2). These earnestearlier than 20 August, however. Peninsula,where severalspecies of Asian areasare characterizedby relativelylush Thus, the early fall migrationperiod is waterbirds that have occurred at Gainbell vegetation dominated by Northern still poorlyknown. undoubtedlydo originate. Wormwood/Tall Wormwood (Artemisia A numberof landbirdspecies with pri- The number and variety of migrant tilesii)and Arctic Sage/ArcticWormwood marfly Old World distributionsnest in shorebirdsand landbirdspresent at Gain- (A. arctica), which are mint-like plants mainland Alaska--a few also do so in bell, as well as the numbers of seabirds thatby latesummer grow to a heightof sinall numbers on Saint Lawrence visibleoff the tip of NorthwestCape ("the up to a half-meter.This growthis a mag- Island but then return west in late sum- Point"), are highly dependent upon net to in autumn, particularly to such regular migrants as Arctic Warbler • Barrow (Phylloscopusborealis), Blue- Chukotsk A Anadyr Peninsula• RUSSIA ALASKA throat (Lusciniasvecica), Gray- Rn,erbasin•.• Nome cheekedThrush (Catharusrain- o Kdomcters 800 iraus),and Red-throated (Antbus I KoryakAnadyr GRI•BEL Anchorage 0 Md½s 500 i St.Lawr- ce I. cervinus) and American (A. Highlands 60 • rubescerts)Pipits, as well as to Num?kI, 5• PaulI, most of the vagrant landbirds / PRIBILOFS•t George I. froIn both Asia and mainland , Sea Okhotsk North America.Many of these •Attu• Shemy•

birdsare shy and difficult to see Sakhahn Adak easilyin thiscover. Two of the / Island threeboneyards are locatednear the base of 187-ineter (614- foot) Sevuokuk Mountain, North PacificOcean which may act as a barrier to

some landbirdsthat might oth- 40 erwisecontinue moving farther jAPAN east.Other migrantsthat arrive elsewhereon the island may work theirway to the northwest Figure1. Mapshowing the Bering Sea region, westernAlaska, and the RussianFar East. Gainbell A tip at Gainbell. BERING islocated at thenorthwestern tip of Saint The Following some limited LawrenceIsland and is only some 65 kilometers SEA point autumn fieldwork on Saint (40miles) from the ChukatskPeninsula in . GambeU circular LawrenceIsland through 1969, Mostof the Asian landbird vagrants that have eboneyard summarizedby Fay and Cade beenfound in spring and fall at Gainbelland Ior (1959) and Sealyet al. (1971), elsewherein thecentral and northern Bering Seanest as far northas the Koryak Highlands Sevuokuk several observers visited Gain- bo•;•rd• Ibonyar. Mountain orAnadyr River basin, but not on the Chukotsk. bell for less than a week in late Mapby Vir•linia Maynard. Contour interval: August or early September I00 feet airstrip• Troutman/•tke 1975, 1989, 1992, I993, 1994, and 1996. ruerand earlyfall to winterin GAMBELL I haveled birdingtours there, each lasting Southeast Asia or Africa. AREA • up to a week, in late August 1992 and These birds, known as annuallyfrom 1997 through2002_ In "trans-Beringian" migrants, I998, I remainedat Gainbellafter the tour includesuch species as Arctic Figure2. Mapof the Gainbell village area, showing three of the pdndpal sitesfor migrant passerines: the"near,"far" and "circular" boneyards (mid- concluded, through 8 September. In Warbler, Bluethroat, North- dens).Most seabird watching takes place from"the Point,"the tip of Saint 1999, 1 rexnaineda total of 45 days,until ern Wheatear (Oenanthe LawrenceIsland's Northwest Cape. Sevuokuk Mountain, lying immediately 3 October.Gary Rosenberg,Scott Terrill, oenanthe), Yellow tothe east, may act to impede the dispersal ofsome landbird transients. and others filled in for me after the tour in (Motacilla fiava), and Red- Thisbarrier, combined with the otherwise sparse vegetation and extensive 2000, remaininguntil 15 September.In throated Pipit. Their peak gravelthat characterizes thevillage area, helps to further concentrate 2001, I returned for an extendedstay, numbers occur at Gainbell migrantsand vagrants inthe boneyards. Adapted from omop by Cindy b•pincott. from 23 Augustthrough 1 October,and between early August and wasjoined for part of that timeby Nelson earlySeptember. Another trans-Beringian weather conditions. Local weather data Dobbs, Steve Mlodinow, and others. In migrant,the Gray-cheekedThrush, has coveringwind speedand direction,tem- 2002, I remainedfrom 23 Augustuntil 2 nesting populations in northeastern perature,and cloudcover were collected October,and wasjoined for shortperiods Siberia that head eastward in fall, back by the authorand others on a dailybasis by GeorgeL. Armistead,Dona Coates, into North Alnerica. during autumn visits between1999 and Bob Dodelson, and David Sonneborn.In Most of the Old World vagrantpasser- 2002. Low overcast and rain tend to addition, photographerDon Cun- ines found at Gainbell breed no farther ground shorebirdsand trans-Beringian ninghainhas visited Gainbellbetween north than Russia'swestern Anadyr River migrants.Rain occurringin the late-night earlyAugust and earlyOctober in six sep- basinand Koryak Highlands, located about and early-morning hours appears to arateyears between 1993 and 2001 and 800 km (500 mi) west-southwestand 950+ increasethe chancesfor good landbird has documenteda number of important km (600+ mi) southwestof Saint Lawrence countsand the appearanceof vagrants. records. Ihis relatively recent autumn Island, respectively.Very few of these North and northeastwinds often produce coverageat Gainbell has not begun in speciesbreed as far north as the Chukotsk the largestnumbers of seabirdsclose to

VOLUME 57 (2003) NUMBER 1 5 year produced an exceptional ondson 25 Augustin the 'nearboneyard,' numberand variety of Asianland- but it could not be relocateddespite RUSSIA ] • bird strays:three first recordsfor muchsearching. My firstimpression was North America--Willow Warbler, of a Chiffchaff-typePhylloscopus: a bird LesserWhitethroat, and Spotted with dark legs, no wingbars,and dull Flycatcher--as well as Oriental upperparts,with the only green color Cuckoo,Sky Lark (Alaudaarven- obviousin someof the flight feathers,a • •'• ALASKA sis),four DuskyWarblers (Phyllo- pale supercflium,dark eyeline, and a scopus[uscatus), Ye/low-browed grayishwash to the crownand nape.At Warbler, three Siberian Accen- this point all I knew is that a greatbird tors, Tree Pipit (Antbustrivialis), hadgotten away and we figuredthat was Reed Bunting (Emberizaschoeni- the end of that... clus), and two Little Buntings But on 26 August I miraculously (Tobish 2003). These same winds refoundthe bird(or perhapsa newbird?) probablyalso played a role, how- overa mile anda half awayalong the east 28 August2002 ever, in a below-averageseason shore of Troutman Lake, where the bird for seabirds and shorebirds. remained from mid-afternoon until dark Many North American main- and affordedall in the groupexcellent, land strays are probably most point-blank,extended views, and whereit likely to arrive on winds from wasvideotaped and photographed(front between the south and northeast. cover,Figures 5-7) by myself,George L. But some rarities turn up in just Armistead, and Stavros Christodoulides. about anyweather, with a number A Phylloscopusthat appearedjust of Asianbirds having been found slightlylarger/longer than an ArcticWar- '• ^t^sKA on dayswith light easterlywinds, bler.Acuvely feeding on the groundand and someNorth Americanstrays in very low vegetation.A verydistinct off- turningup on dayswith westerly whitishsupercilium extended, depending or northerlywinds. There are, of on the angleand how the featherswere course, factors other than the held, to just behind the eye or to farther weather at work that shape a behindthe eye;this pale color met over given year's migration. These the top of the bill in a thin line. Distinct includethe timingand successof darkeyeline from lores to behindeye, and 29August2002 "• the nesting season,which can usuallya somewhatdistinct pale crescent Figures3 & 4. Weathermaps for 28 August (top) and 29 Augrot (bot- vary greatlyfrom year to year in under eye. Pale-ish lower auriculars tom)2002. On the 28th, Saint Lawrence Island was dominated byhigh- theArctic, and such intangibles as below the crescent.Chin and upper pressurecentered immediately tothe south. The area enjoyed a rela- chance and observer luck. throat whitish, center and lower throat tivelyrare calm, sunny day with gentle westerly breezes developing. and upper breastwashed with a pale, Thatevening saw the appearance ofa ReedBunting (Emberiza •choeni- THREENORTH duO,the first U.S. record north of the Aleutians and the first for autumn clear yellow (more or less obvious Jnthe s•ate. On the 29th, the high had moved to the northeast and low- AAIERICANFIRSTS dependingon the lighting,whether the pressureareas were centered over the base of the Aleutians and over The autumn of 2002 at Gambel/ bird was in the openor amongstvegeta- theChukchJ Sea, as a trailing cold front from the latter approached. The was exceptionalfor both Asian tion, etc.), which combined with the face dockwisecirculation around the high and southwesterly flowahead of and North American landbird patternto sometimesimpart the look of a thecold front combined toproduce moderate southwesterly winds at strays. Three first records [or springPhiladelphia Vireo when the bird Gambeilofup to 40 kph (25 mph) all day, and with a loweringdeck of North America were discovered: stratusclouds. Bylate in the day, the continuing Reed Bunting had been was facing head on. Remainderof the joinedby a DuskyWarbler (Ph¾11oscopus fuscatus)and a record-early Willow Warbler (25-30 Augus0, underpartswhitish except for a light SiberianAccentor (Prunella montanella). All three birds---as well as the LesserWhitethroat (8-9 Septem- dusky wash of variableintensity that WillowWarbler present since 25 August--remained themomJng ofthe ber), and SpottedFlycatcher (14 extendedfrom the sidesof the upper 3Orb,when there were light southwesterly winds and a lowceiling, and September).All threewere exten- breastout on to the breastjust below the werejoined by North America's second Yellow-browed Warbler (R •nor- sively videotapedby the author; natus),which could conceivably have arrived on the 29th as well. yellow wash (sometimesquite apparent, photographsof the first and last sometimeshard to see) and for a light were also taken: by GeorgeL. buffy-yellowwash around the leg region shore.But thosesame winds tend to sup- Armistead and Stavros Christodoufldes extendingacross the lower vent; but the pressthe occurrenceof mostAsian strays. (Willow Warbler) and by David Son- moredistal undertail coverts were, again, My visit during the autumn of 1999, neborn (SpottedFlycatcher). Documen- whitish.Crown a dull, palebrown-gray, for example,saw 29 of 45 dayscharacter- tation and discussion for each of these slightlygrayer nape, but backand rump ized by north and northeastwinds, and three birds follows. clearly tinged with dull green. Wings only four Asian landbirds were found: showeddull greenishto flight feathers, (Cuculus saturatus), WILLOW WARBLER one very faint wingbar, and a blackish SiberianAccentor, and Litfie Bunting, (Phylloscopustrochilus) alula. Unmarked tertialsslightly darker along with the first North American 25-30 August 2002 [thanmost of the wing], and the primar- record of Yellow-browed Warbler ies were darker, with pale tips to each (Lehman 2000a, 2000b, 2000c, Tobish Details individualexposed primary. The primary 2000a).In contrast,westerly-to-southerly Thefollowing account was taken from my extensionwas substantial,equal to the winds prevailedon 21 of 42 daysin the noteswritten on 26 August 2002. lengthof the tertian or at leastabout 90 fall of 2002 (e.g.,Figures 3 & 4), andthat "1 first saw this bird for about five sec- percentof the tertiallength, which gave

6 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS the primariesa long, pointedshape; they low Warbler has fewer emarginationsto extendeddown part of the length of the the individualprimaries, such as P6 (C. tail. Outer two visibleprimary tips fol- Kchoe, pers. corem). These differences lowed inward by a sizeablegap, then at may be difficult or impossibleto see in least five exposed inner primary tips the field,and initiallythe primaryprojec- beyond the longesttertiaL perhapssix. tion and spacingwere difficult to ascer- Central rectricesshowed pointed tips, tain on the Gambellbird. But given the indicativeof a young bird (?). The bill bird'scooperative behavior on 26 August, was dark except for a pale base to the thesecharacters were easilycaptured on lower mandible,usually noticeableonly videoand in photographs.We were able when one could see up under the bill. to studyslow-motion, close-up video of Legs were dark, a browrash-gray[not the bird that sameday, while the bird was truly blackish]--thusmy initial thought present,and determinewith certaintythat the firstday and earlyon the secondthat its primaries matched those of Willow the bird was probably a Chiffchaff [P Warbler.The greenishtones above, pale collybita]--with paler, more brownish- lower auriculars, and the light yellow horn feet,and even paler soles to the feet; wash below also stronglyfavor Willow this palecolor extended upwards slightly Warblerover Chiffchaff--particularlythe on the back of the lower leg, just above easternpopulation of the latter, "Siberian the 'heel.' Darkish eye. Upon alighting, Chiffchaff" (P c. tristis), which lacks these the bird would often pump its tail down- greenand yellow tones. ß ward once or twice. Most of the remain- Comments on the identification of this der of the timeit wouldnot pump its tail bird as a Willow Warbler, basedon video- except a few times when particularly tape,photos, and writtendetails 1 sup- activeor unsteady.Silent." plied, werereceived from expertshere The bird [or another?]was seenagain in North America and in Europe, by Armisteadon 29 August,now in the including Lars Svensson and Per 'circularboneyard,' one and a half miles AlstrOm in Sweden and Colin Brad- back to the north from where it was on shaw and Chris Kehoe in the U.K., the 26th, and almost a mile to the east and all concurredwith the species from where it was on the 25th. It was seen identificatmn. There is some uncer- well again in the circular boneyardby tainty, however,concerning the sub- both of us on 30 August[when we sawit speciesinvolved. The mostlikely sub- sometimesvery close to a Yellow-browed speciesto occur based on distribu- Warbler!]. Exactly how many Willow tional ground--P t. yakutensis--typi- Warblerswere involved? Taking the con- cally is slightly duller than this bird servativeapproach, I assumethat just one appeared,lacking almost any greenish bird was present25-30 August;but con- tonesabove (except to the flight feath- ceivablythere may havebeen as many as ers) and any yellowish tones below. three birds involved (25 August, 26 The next mostlikely subspeciesbased August,and 29-30 August)."[A few fall on distribution, Pt. rarities at Gainbellover the yearshave acredula, may be a moved between the various boneyards, closer fit, but even it althoughthis birdg travelingwell down is not a perfectmatch. the shore of the lake makes it even a The Gambell bird k muchgreater wanderer.] may best fit within populations of east- Discussion erly acredulaor in the Plumagecharacters narrow the choices borderland between '• down to Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. acredulaand yakuten- The identification as Willow Warbler is sis(L. Svensson,pets. based on a number of characters, the comm.).Plumage and • most importantof which is the primary bare-part color varia- • extensionand spacing,which is diagnos- tion in the eastern tic (Svensson1992, Baker 1997, Mullar- forms of this species ney et al. 1999). In Willow Warbler,the is not well known (C. Figures5-7. This Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) was found at Gambell,Saint primaryextension is at least three-quar- Bradshaw, C. Kehoe, LawrenceIsland, Abska 25-30 August 2002 (photographed here 26 August), establishing tersthat of tertiallength, whereas in Chif- L. Svensson, pers. thefirst record for North America. Note the pbiu upperparts with limited dull greenish fchaf[ this extensionis only half that of comm.). tones,the distinct pale supercilium extending somewhat behind the eye, pale lower the tertials. There tends to be a noticeable The birdg darkish auriculars,single very faint wingbar, and pale yellow wash to the lower throat and gap in the spacing in the primaries legsinitially confused upperbreast. The most important character visible here that can be used to separate (betweenP7 andP6 andespecially P6 and us. Almost all nomi- thisspedes from the similar-looking Chiffchaff (P.collybita) isthe long primary exten- sion(almost as long as the length of the tertials) and the noticeable gap in the spacing nate Willow Warblers PS, when the primaries are numbered ofthe primaries. The dark-looking legs are unusual for Willow Warbler, but this is a char- ascendently)in Willow Warbler (Svens- in Europe have pale acterthat may be more prevalent inthe eastern populations ofthis spedes. See also the son 1992), not so in Chiffchaff, and Wil- legsand feet,whereas coverphotograph. Photographs by&orge L Armisteadandfrom videotope byPaul E. Lehrnan.

VOLUME 57 (2003) HUMBER 1 7 2000b). Vagrant Willow Warblers have undertailcoverts. An activefeeder, keep- been recordedin fall in Japan (O.S.J. ing mostlyout of view,and makingonly 2000; M. A. Brazil, pets. comm.; N. relativelybrief appearancesin the open. Letbaby, pets. comm.), mostly from Calleda few timesand gave a single-sylla- Hegura Island. The first record for the ble hard call (tic or tit) that wasslightly country,from Kyushuin October 1981, softer(though still a hardnote) and qui- involved a bird of the subspeciesPt. eter than the hard call-notebeing given yakutensis(O.S.J. 2000). occasionallyby the nearbyDusky War- For many years, Willow Warbler was bler.Videotaped on 8 September." on the North Americanlist, with a speci- men reportedtaken at Barrow,Alaska, on Discussion 10 June 1952 (Pitelka 1974). This speci- As stated above, the identification of this menwas subsequently re-identified, how- bird as a Lesser Whitethroat in the broad ever, as an Arctic Warbler (Roberson and senseis straightforward.All expertswho Pitelka 1983, A.O.U. 1998). viewedthe videoof the bird agreedwith the identification.Determining the sub- LESSER WHITETHROAT speciesis much more difficult, however. (Sylvia curruca) The taxonomyof the LesserWhitethroat 8-9 September2002 complexhas been the subjectof debate for many years.Most authoritiesrecog- Details nize nine or ten subspecies(Baker 1997, Figures8 & 9. LesserWhitethroat (Sylvia curruca) isa distinctivespecies. This individual established the first Thisbird wasfound in the "farboneyard" Clements 2000, Shirihai et al. 2001), NorthAmerican record not only of the species but also duringthe early afternoon of 8 September althoughthat numberranges from five to ofthe genus. It waspresent at Cambell8-9 September 2002. I sawthe bird repeatedlyover 8 and twelve (King 1998). Theseforms can be 2002.Lesser Whitethroat taxonomy has been the sub- 9 September.No otherbirders were pres- placedinto approximatelythree groups, jectof debate for many years; some authorities split ent at Gambellduring the bird'stwo-day but the distributions of the various sub- thecomplex into three separate species groups. stay,so I was the sole observer.But I was speciesare complex and incompletely Photographsfromvideotape byPaul E. Lehman. ableto obtaingood videotape of the bird known (King 1998,Money 2000). Lesser on 8 September (Figures8 & 9). The Whitethroats (in the broad sense)winter Chiffchaffsand only very rarelya nomi- identification of the bird as a Lesser from central Africa east to and Sri nate Willow Warblerhave dark legsand Whitethroat•s straightforward.However, Lanka (Dement'ev and Gladkov 1954, feet (C. Bradshaw,pets. comm.). It a number of taxonomists and others have Vaurie 1959, Cramp et al. 1992, Baker appears,however, that a larger, though recentlysplit the LesserWhitethroat into 1997). The raceblythi breeds east to just still unknown, percentof Asian birds-- threeseparate species, so determining the eastof LakeBaikal and is thoughtto win- racesacredula and yakutensis--may show subspecies/speciesgroup involved may be ter primarilyin India and Pakistan(Baker dark legs, and such birds have been important (see discussionbelow). Field 1997). It is the mostlikely form to occur bandedand photographedat the Pechora notes follow. River delta in Russia (N. D. van Swelm, "A Sylvia-typewarbler, with a slightly pets. comm.) and in Japan (Maki and longer,narrower tail thana typicalPhyllo- Onishi 2000; M. A. Brazil, pets. comm.; scopus.Small dark bill. Dark legs.I first N. Lethaby,pers. comm.). flushedit up out of far boneyard,where it Willow Warbler is a long-distance perched on a boulder, at which time 1 migrantthat breedsas far eastin Russiaas immediately identified it as a Lesser the westernAnadyr Riverbasin (Demen- Whitethroat, having seen many previ- t'ev and Gladkov 1954, Vaurie 1959, ously in lsrael and a smallernumber in Cramp et al. 1992, Baker 1997), only Europe. Most distinctivewas the very about650 km (400 mi) from the Bering dark gray face--givingthe bird a masked Strait (Figure 12). The race acredula look, andwhich curved down slightly in breedseast approximatelyto the Lena the rearauricular region. Crown a distinct basin,where it intergradeswith yakuten- pale-to-mediumgray (unmarked),which sis, which breeds farther northeast, as far contrasted somewhat (depending on as the Kolyma and Anadyr rivers (Baker lighting and distance)with a slightly 1997). As such, Willow Warbler sharesan browner-grayunmarked back, rump, and easternbreeding range with the Yellow- warm-brownishwings. The taft, in turn, browed Warbler and a number of other contrasted appreciably darker, and in speciesthat have been found in western flight it showed extensivewhite to the Alaska.This species had been anticipated outer rectrices.The effectof tail shape in Alaska by some authorities (e.g., and generalcolor (darknesswith exten- Figures10 & 11. SpottedFlycatcher (Muscicapa striata) Tobish 2000b). Most of the Asian-breed- sivewhite) combinedwith generalupper- photographedat Cambell on 14 September 2002. Like ing populationwinters far to the west,in part color imparted a somewhatgnat- the LesserWhitethroat, it was a totalsurprise when it easternand southernAfrica. This strong catcher-like look when the bird was seen wasfound at Cambell.It can be separated from other Muscicapaflycatchers bythe distinct, sharp da•k streaks east-west component to the migration flying away and about to land. Clean onthe forehead and forecrown, the plain-looking face may help to bringa late-springovershoot white throat and center of underparts. witha weakpale eyering and no pale Ioral stripe, or an autumn reverse migrant to Saint Flanks showedlight tan-brownishwash, andthe proportionately large, entirely dark bill. Lawrencelsland and pointsnorth (Tobish which in turn contrasted with clean white Photographsfromvideotape byPaul E. tehroan.

8 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS in Alaskabased on distribution,although the speciesoverall. Gambeil the closestbreeding sites are still at least One of the foremostexperts on 4000 km (2500 mi) away (Figure 13). this speciescomplex, Lars Svensson Thiswas not a speciesthat hadbeen pre- (pers. comm.), believesthe Gain- dicted to occur in North America. bell bird to be blythi or nominate The currucaor "taiga"group, including curruca,or possiblyhalimodendri/ nominatecurruca and Siberianblythi, are telengitica, but not minula or colloquiallyknown as "Northern Lesser althaea. Colin Bradshaw (pers. ] Breed,rigrange Whitethroat" or just "Lesser comm.), Chair of the British Birds ] Winterrange Whitethroat." This group contains the Rarities Committee, believes the northernmost breeders, which tend to bird lookslike currucaor blythi,but show distinctive dark masks and warm- he also states that the British com- brownishwings. When the Gainbellbird mitteewill likely requirethat birds was in subduedlight, the strong,warm- reported as "Desert Lesser Figure12. Breedingand winter ranges of Willow Warbler. The former Whitethroats" in the U.K. be browntones to the wing, and the sizeand extendseastward tothe western Anadyr River basin, only some 650 km darknessof the mask, stronglysuggest trapped and full biometrics be (400mi) fTom the Bering Strait. The entire population ofthis species is blythi/curruca.In bright light, however, obtained. thoughtto winter in sub-Saharan Africa. The substantial east-west the bird appeareda bit morewashed out. There are at least two records of componenttothe migration ofthis species' Asian populations would This variationcan be seen easilywhen LesserWhitethroat from Japan-- allowfor a mirror-imagevagrant to occur Jnwestern Alaska infall, or viewingthe completevideotape footage. I in October 1994 and February foran overshoot tooccur in spring. Map by Virginia Maynard. believethe Gainbellbird is a goodmatch 1998 (Maki and Ouishi 2000), one for the illustration of blythi found in for Korea (Lee et al. 2000), and Porter et al. (1996). Call-notes also five or six records from Thailand match, and such vocalizationsmay help as well (G. L. Armistead, pets. to separatesome of the races (Money comm.). The subspeciesgroup or 2000). groups involved, if known, were The minula group of Lesser not specified. Whitethroats, colloquially known as "Desert Lesser Whitethroat" or "Small ] Winterrange Whitethroat," is made up of several (Muscicapastriata) southerly-breedingsubspecies that breed 14 September2002 north to northern China. Comparedto the first group,they tend to be slightly Details smalleroverall, paler (sandiet)above and I first spottedthis bird in the circu- creamier below, with a weaker mask, and lar boneyardduring the mid-after- Figure13. Breedingand winter ranges of the Lesser Whitethroat. a slightlydifferent call (Svensson1992, noon of 14 September2002, imme- Thisspecies breeds no closer to Gambellthan just east of Lake Porter et al. 1996, Baker 1997, Money diatelyidentified the bird as a Mus~ Baikal,some 4000 km (2500 mi) away. Map bv Virginia Maynard. 2000, Pettersson 2001, Shirihai et al. cicapaflycatcher of somesort, and 2001). Vagrantshave been reportedin quickly called to David Souueborn Ga•bell• Western Europe. The althaea group, (the only other birder with me at known as "Hume's [Lesser]Whitethroat," Gainbell that day), who was some is restricted to mountains from Iran to 50 feet away,to comeover and see India. "Hume's"is extremelyunlikely to it. The bird remained at this site for occur in North America based on distrib- the remainderof the day,allowing utionalgrounds and is eliminatedon the us repeated fine views and the basisof its largersize, much grayer (slate- opportunity for videography •'•/'mterr•nge gray) plumage,and more obviouspale (Lehman; Figures 10 & 11) and edgesto the covertsand tertials(Porter et photography(Sonneborn). al. 1996, Baker 1997, Shirihai et al. 2001). At first, we were not sure which Severalauthorities (e.g., Sibley 1996, speciesof Muscicapait was. Most Clements 2000) have already acted to viewsinitially were eitherrelatively split LesserWhitethroat into thesethree brief or at a moderate distance. separategroups. Others (e.g., Cramp et (Later on, the bird would provide Figure14. Breedingand winter ranges of the Spotted Flycatcher. al. 1992, Shirihai et al. 2001) believe us with close-up,extended views.) Likethe LesserWhitethroat, It breedsno closer to Alaskathan the We first considered the three LakeBaikal region. And like the Willow Warbler, it is known to sucha split to be prematureuntil several winteronly in tropical Africa, and thus shares a strong east-west intermediateraces (e.g., halimodendri) speciesof AsianMuscicapa that had componentto its migration. Mirror-image vagrancy might betweenthe currucaand minulagroups beenrecorded in Alaskapreviously: explainits remarkable occurrence inthe northern Bering Sea can be properly assigned.On the sub- Siberian Flycatcher(M. sibirica), regionin autumn.Map by Virginia Maynard. species level, some authorities lump Gray-spottedFlycatcher (M. griseis- blythi in with nominate curruca,others ticta), and (M. BeringSea. Initially, we tried to pigeon- believeit is at least a weakly differenti- dauurica).There is oneprevious record of hole the bird into one of these three ated race that is marginally browner Asian Brown Flycatcherat Gainbell in species.But it showedconflicting field above;all keep thesetwo formstogether June 1994--but there are no other Musci- characters.After obtainingsome video- in the same subspeciesgroup, even if capa records there, or from anywhere tape,I returnedto my room at the lodge there is a three-waytaxonomic split in north of Saint Paul Island in the central whereI had severalimportant references

VOLUME 57 (2003) NUMBER 1 9 (e.g., AlstrOm and Hirschreid 1991, quarterof theway downthe tail. Legsand tationsin identifyingto subspecieswith Mullarneyet al. 1999). At this point, the feet blackish. Silent." certainty-•evenin hand--vagrantindi- idea that the bird better fit SpottedFly- vidualsof manypolytypic species, and we catcherentered my mind (I had seenthis Discussion aretherefore unwilling to attemptto pur- speciespreviously in Europeand Israel), SpottedFlycatchers breed east only asfar suethese identifications to thesubspecies so I returned to the bird a bit wiser. It did as the Lake Baikal area (western "Trans- levelbased on the photographs.If in the not take long for us to obtain our best baykalia"),and they winter in sub-Saha- future Sylviacurruca is to be dividedinto viewsyet. We confirmedall of the charac- ran Africa (Dement'ev and Gladkov 1954, multiple species,we would refer to this ters stated below; and, now for the first Vantie 1959, Cramp and Perrins 1993; sight and photographrecord as one of time, looked for and clearlyobserved the Figure 14). This species,like the Lesser 'Sylviacurruca sensu lato' or of 'Sylviacur- distinctdark streakspresent on the bird's Whitethroat,was not expectedto occurin ruca (sensu Vantie 1959)'." These three forehead and forecrown. Field notes on North America. Unlike Lesser records are still pending in the ABA the SpottedFlycatcher follow, written 14 Whitethroat and Willow Warbler, there Checklist Committee. September2002. are as yet no recordsfrom Japan (M. A. "A Muscicapaflycatcher found in the Brazil, pets. comm.). The easternmost, Acknowledgments p.m. in the circularboneyard. Excellent Siberianrace of SpottedFlycatcher is M. s. Comments on the identification of one or views were obtainedrepeatedly over a neumanni, which Cramp and Perrins more of theserecords were providedby periodof a couplehours, as the bird was (1993) describesas slightly paler gray Per Alstr6m, GeorgeL. Armistead,Colin relatively easy to follow and watched above and whiter below than nominate Bradshaw,Darrell Clegg, Alan Dean, perchedand feeding.It would regularly striataof Europe.Videotape of the Gam- JulianHough, Chris Kehoe, Nick Lethaby, hoverand gleanfood from plants,and it bell bird matchesthis paler coloration Steve Madge, Will Russell,David Son- wouldalso fly up to threeor four feetoff overall. Upon viewing the videotape, neborn, Lars Svensson, and Norman van the groundand hover in the air, looking Colin Bradshawand Will Russell(pers. Swelm. References and other information side to side,for a coupleor so seconds• comm.)thought the bird waspaler (more werefurnished by Mark Brazil,Don Cun- behaving much in this regard like a gray and lessbrown) than typical Euro- ningham, and Thede Tobish.Additional Mountain Bluebird [Sialia currucoidesl. pean birds, and perhapswith a bolder photographsof the GainbellWillow War- At rest,it fairlyregularly flicked its tail up palewing panelthan Europeanbirds, but bler were providedby GeorgeL. Armis- and then back down, but it only rarely still within the variation possiblein the tead and StavrosChristodoulides. Troy flicked its wings. Pale, unmarkeddirty latter. and Kathie Klunder of Gainbell assisted grayishabove, except for distinctdark, As stated above, the plain face with with the copyingof importantautumn well-defined(not blurry or faint) dark veryweak pale eye-ring and lack of a pale 2002 videotapewhile I wason the island. streaks(visible at closeto mediumrange) loral stripe,proportionately long bill lack- Laurie Larson provided invaluablecom- onforehead and forecrown. Crown feathers ing any noticeablepale color to the lower puter help in downloadingimages. Com- often held fiat, sometimes peaked mandible,distinct pale edgingsto the mentson earlierdrafts of the manuscript upwardsslightly. Nape and back were a wing,lack of streakingon the flanks,and were given by Colin Bradshaw,Mark plain, dull, pale graF Wings showeda especiallythe distinctdark streaksto the Brazil. Don Cunningham,Robb Hamil- very distinctnarrow whitish wingbarat forehead and forecrown combine to elim- ton, Steve Heinl, Chris Kehoe, Gary tipsof greatercoverts and distinct whitish inate the otherthree species of Muscicapa Rosenberg, Brad Schram, and Thede edgingsto tertialsand all the secondaries, flycatchers. Tobish. especially.Tail a bit darker, with outer Despite the great distances(at least paleweb occasionallyvisible when bird in 4000 km [2500 mi]) from Gambell to the Literaturecited flight. Facehad a distinctdark eye with closestpoint in the breedingrange--in AlstrOm,P, and E. Hirschreid. 1991. dull pale, narrow,circular eyering (not the LakeBaikal region--this species,like Field identification of Brown, Siberian, whitish)and absolutely no suggestion of a the Willow Warbler, is a long-distance and Grey-streakedflycatchers. Birding pale spot or line in loral area--all of migrant that winters in tropicalAfrica. World 4: 271-278. which imparteda plain-facedlook to the Thus, birds breeding in Asia show a AmericanOrnithologists' Union. bird (except for the dark eye). Bill stronginitial movementto the west in [A.O.U.] 1998. The A.O.U. Check-list appearedproportionately large and long their fall migration.This might allow for of NorthAmerican Birds. American and entirelyblackish, with no pale color mirror-imagevagrancy to explainsuch an Ornithologists'Union, Washington, apparenton the lowermandible. Throat occurrence in western Alaska. D.C. whitish with dusky malar (submous- Baker,K. 1997. Warblersof Europe,Asia, tachial) line. The pale color of the lower Postscript andNorth Africa. Princeton University throat extended slightly back below Following the receiptof videotape,pho- Press,Princeton, New Jersey. auriculars,a patternsomewhat as in Myr- tographs, written documentation, and Cramp,S., et al. (eds.). 1992. Handbook tle Warbler, but was shorter and nar- written comments I had solicited from a of theBirds of Europe,the Middle East, rower.The upper breastwas crossedby numberof experts,the AlaskaChecklist andNorth Africa: The Birds of theWest- ratherfaint but clearlyvisible dusky ver- Committee in November 2002 voted ern Palearctic,Volume VI: Warblers. tical streaks and mixed with a dull wash unanimouslyto acceptthe Willow War- OxfordUniversity Press, New York. of dirty light tan-gray.Remainder of the bler,Lesser Whitethroat, and Spotted Fly- Cramp,S., and C.M. Perrins(eds.). underpartsunmarked and whiter, with catcher to the Alaska List. These three 1993.Handbook of theBirds of Europe, the flanks being unmarkedas well but speciesbecame numbers 467, 468, and theMiddle East, and North Africa: The with a small wash of dull buff on the 469 on this list (D. D. Gibson, pers. Birdsof the WesternPalearctic, Volume inner flank that was often concealedby comm.). The Committeeaccepted these VII: Flycatchersto Shrikes.Oxford the leadingedge of the foldedwing. Pri- birds at the specieslevel only, however. UniversityPress, New York. maryextension appeared to be aboutone- "At the sametime we recognizereal limi- Dement'ev,G.P, and N.A. Gladkov

10 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS (eds.).1954ß Birds of theSoviet Unionß Taxonomyand Phylogeny of theGenus Birds 54: 89-92ß 1968 translationby IsraelProgram for SylviaßChristopher Helm, A & C ß 2000b. The next new ABA-Area ScientificTranslation, Jerusalem. Black, London. birds:Western Alaskaß Birding 32: Fay,EH., and T.J.Cade. 1959. An eco- Sibley,C. 1996.Birds of theWorld, 498-505ß logicalanalysis of theavifauna of St. version 2.0. ß2002. Fall migration2001: LawrenceIsland, Alaska. University Svensson,L. 1992. IdentificationGuide Alaskaregionß North American Birds of CaliforniaPublications in Zoology to EuropeanPasserines. 4th ed. 56: 89-92ß 63: 73-150. Publishedby the author,Stockholmß ß2003. Fall migration2002: King,J. 1998. OrnithoNews:Three Tobish,T. 1999.Fall migration1998: Alaskaregionß North American Birds LesserWhitethroats. Birding World Alaskaregionß North American Birds 57: 102-104. 11: 122. 53: 89-91. Vaurie,C. 1959. TheBirds of the Lee, W.-S., T.-H. Koo, J.-Y. Park, and ß2000a. Fall migration1999: PalearcticFauna: Passeriformes. T. Taniguchi.2000. A FieldGuide Alaskaregion. North American H.E&G.Witherby, Londonß • to theBirds of Korea.LG Evergreen Foundation, Seoul, Korea. Lehman, E 2000a. First record of Yellow- browedWarbler (Phylloscopus inorna- tus) in North America. WesternBirds 31:57-60. ß 2000b. Oriental Cuckoo versus CommonCuckoo. Birding World 13: 321-323. __. 2000c. Pictorialhighlights: AviSys Version 5 specialsupplement: Fall 1999 birding As SimpleAs YouWish ~ As PowerfulAs YouNeed highlightsfrom the BeringSea region, Alaska. North American Birds 54: Seeour web site for greatnew features! 117-120. PalmSupport! Clements' 2001Taxonomy! Subspecies Support! Maki,H., and T. Onishi. 2000. APhot•- graphicGuide to theBirds of Japan. New!Over 2,000 FormalPlaces, Unlimited Locations! Heibonsha,Tokyo. (in Japanese) TheLeader ~ Alwaysa GiantStep Ahead of AllThe Rest! Money,D. 2000. 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VOLUME 57 (2003) NUMBER 11