Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia (Linnaeus, 1766) (1, 0)
Photo © Iain H Leach
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
The BOU were of the opinion that species with ship assistance were unacceptable for the British List. However as thinking changed over the years, this record was finally accepted twenty four years later.
As we now know, small passerrines are quite capable of crossing 3000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
RECORDS
1). 1936 Shetland Vatster, Tingwall, Mainland, juvenile male, found dead, mid-October, photo, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1936.84).
(A. C. Stephen, Scottish Naturalist 57: 46; Eds., British Birds 31: 125; BOURC (1938), Ibis 80: 140-141; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 58: 47; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 38; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 11; Eds., British Birds 53: 98-99; BOURC (1960), Ibis 102: 629; Thom, 1986; Pennington et al., 2004; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
History A. C. Stephen (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 46, says: 'An American Black and White Warbler, Mniotilta varia, was picked up near Scalloway, Shetland, about the middle of October 1936, and was forwarded to the Royal Scottish Museum by Mr F. Inkster. The arrival of this bird followed a period of stormy weather. The carcase was in a very decomposed condition but was finally preserved and is now in the collection of the Royal Scottish Museum, after being identified by Mr N. B. Kinnear of the British Museum. Although this bird is a small creature, in its native haunts in America it undertakes long migrations. The breeding range extends west and north-west from South Carolina and New Brunswick as far as the Great Bear Lake in north-western Canada. The winter is spent in Southern Florida, the West Indies, Central Mexico, Central America and north-western South America. This would appear to be the first record of this bird outside America.'
In an Editorial (1937) in British Birds, Vol. XXXI. p. 125, they say: 'An example of this small Warbler (Mniotilta varia (L.)) was picked up near Scalloway, Shetland, about the middle of October, 1936, and forwarded to the Scottish Museum (A. C. Stephen, Scot. Nat., 1937, p. 46). The species is a native of the eastern half of N. America and winters as far south as northern S. America. We do not consider that so small a land bird could cross the Atlantic unaided.'
BOURC (1938) in The Ibis, Vol. LXXX. pp. 140-141, in the Twelfth List Report, say: 'The question of so small a bird being able to fly so far over sea without food was considered and it was agreed that the specimen could only have reached the British Isles by being assisted. The Committee are therefore of the opinion that it cannot be admitted to the British List.'
E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1938) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVIII. p. 47, say: 'It has not been admitted by the BOU as it was considered to be a case of assisted passage.'
W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 11, say: 'There is no reason whatever to doubt the genuineness of the migrant status of this bird, which appeared at the same time as a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.'
Admitted nationally in the Third Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1960) Ibis 102: 629).
Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007 (2): 1452) add: 'Local newspaper reports gave the correct locality, which is 10 km further north than Scalloway. It was found dead in the garden of Henry Anderson of Kirkasetter, Vatster, near Tingwall, Mainland, in mid-October 1936. This juvenile male is now preserved as a skin in the NMS (NMSZ 1936.84).'
