Even though these two photos aren't the greatest, we can still ID this warbler as a male Black-throated Blue Warbler as follows:
- Small white patch on wing. This is a key field mark of the Black-throated Blue Warbler.
- Bluish back (see first photo)
- Dark crown, face and sides. This is consistent with actual colors: midnight blue crown and black face and sides.
- Whitish underparts
- Merlin bird photo ID app identified this warbler as possibly a Black-throated Blue Warbler and one other warbler, which was easily eliminated.
Unlike other warblers that molt into "confusing fall plumage", the male Black-throated Blue Warbler keeps its distinctive black-and-blue plumage all year. Female Black-throated Blue Warblers are so different from the male that they were once considered a separate species. They do however have the distinctive white wing patch.
The Black-throated Blue Warbler is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 920.
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