​White Wagtail *

​Sprague's Pipit

Sprague's Pipit seems to be a species that field guide artists have a problem with. Most portray it as though it were a grassland version of a Water Pipit. In reality, the Sprague's resembles the Water Pipit very little in features or habitat preferences. With its small head and long neck atop a plump body the color of dry grass, Sprague's is reminiscent of a minute Buff-breasted or Upland Sandpiper. In terms of habitat, it seeks out the same short grass situations as those two shorebirds, rather than the wet, bare fields or beaches that Water Pipits frequent. An interesting contrast can be seen on Rutherford Beach, in Cameron Parish. There, a small group of Sprague's can be found every year, feeding in the well-grazed grasslands adjacent to the beach. Occasionally, Water Pipits can be seen within just a few feet of a Sprague's, but on the open sand at the Gulf's edge.

When flushed, a Sprague's will call loudly while launching itself aloft, then will often fly in a huge, leisurely circle for a few minutes before returning to the ground. The best way to get a good look at one perched is to hurry to the spot where it landed, then scan the area well before it can walk too far away.

​Solitary Vireo

Solitary Vireo is a fairly common but not always conspicuous winter resident in SW Louisiana. The earliest migrants generally begin to arrive by late September; from this time, they are present through about mid-April. Solitary Vireo is a somewhat late migrant, and their numbers may possibly peak in December (Remsen et al., 1996). Winterers are generally gone by late March, though migrants continue to pass through the area in small numbers through early April. The extreme fall date is Sept. 4, though the next earliest arrival is a Sept 20 record that may pertain to the western "Cassin's" subspecies. The extreme late date for spring is a bird recorded on May 11.

For an excellent summary of the staus of vireos in Louisiana, consult:

Timing of Migration and Status of Vireos in Louisiana, J.V. Remsen, Jr., S.W. Cardiff, and D.L. Dittmann. Journal of Field Ornithology 67(1):119-140.

​Philadelphia Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo is a common late spring migrant along the coast, and common fall migrant both inland and coastally. Fall migration extends from late September to November, peaking in October. Spring migration dates extend from April 20 to May 21, with a peak in late April-early May. Philadelphia Vireos are encountered frequently along the coast during the peak of their spring passage, especially during "fallouts", but spring records north of the coast are almost nonexistent. (Remsen et al. 1996). Although vireos are generally seen feeding by gleaning insects from leaves, Philadelphia Vireos have been observed feeding on the fruit of Virginia Creeper, (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), in Southwestern LA in fall. At least two Philadelphias were observed making frequent visits to one such vine from October 12-18, 1994, at Acadiana Park, Lafayette.

For an excellent summary of the staus of vireos in Louisiana, consult:

Timing of Migration and Status of Vireos in Louisiana, J.V. Remsen, Jr., S.W. Cardiff, and D.L. Dittmann. Journal of Field Ornithology 67(1):119-140.

Similar Species: Bell's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo

​Golden-winged Warbler

The Golden-winged Warbler is a species that seems to be harder and harder to find each year. Part of this is presumably due to the fact that Golden-wings are losing out in competition to closely related Blue-winged Warblers, with hybrids produced in areas where both species occur. Nonetheless, Louisiana birders are likely to see at least few Golden-wings every year in Spring and Fall migration. The female pictured here (showing the bright wing patch that gives this species its name) was filmed during Spring Migration.

​Blackburnian Warbler

Even among the warblers, a group known for their beautiful colors, the Blackburnian Warbler with its flame-orange throat is in a class by itself. At coastal migration hotspots from mid-April through May, when a birder utters a gasp of amazement, it's likely to be followed by, "male Blackburnian!" No picture or field guide can do it justice. Away from the coast in Spring, however, Blackburnians are less commonly encountered. A good bet, however, is to search for pecans or hickories in flower. Among the migrants that sometimes flock to these trees, a Blackburnian can often be found. Females (such as the one pictured here) are less brilliantly tinted, but still display enough of the Blackburnian pattern to be identified.

​Palm Warbler

Palm Warblers are common to abundant Spring and Fall migrants, with a few remaining throughout the winter. The majority of our migrants, such as the bird pictured here, are the drabber "Western" Palm Warblers, although a few of the brighter "Yellow" Palms can be found here as well.

​Northern Waterthrush

Northern Waterthrush is a common spring and fall migrant, generally passing through the state later in those seasons than Louisiana Waterthrush. The two waterthrushes can be extremely similar. Good things to look for to separate Northern from Louisiana include (generally) much more densely streaked underparts, fairly uniform off-white ground color beneath in Northern compared to very whitish ground color on the breast and throat with buffy flanks and undertail in Louisiana. The throat is streaked on Northern, unstreaked white on Louisiana. The bill of Northern is noticeably smaller than that Louisiana, and the legs are not as bright of a pink. The eye-stripe of Northern is usually dingy and narrows behind the eye in Northern, and is whitish, and flares behind the eye in Louisiana. The eye-stripe differences aren't always as pronounced as field guides suggest, unfortunately.