Colima Warbler (Vermivora crissalis)

Colima Warbler
Vermivora crissalis

The Colima Warbler (Vermivora crissalis) is one of the most sought after birds in the United States. Within the United States, this species usually only nests in the mountains of Big Bend National Park of far west Texas. There are a very few records of this species in the nearby Davis Mountains of west Texas, and it is a common breeder in parts of Mexico. Birdwatchers from across the country make the pilgrimage to Boot Canyon in the high Chisos Mountains of Big Bend hoping to see this bird. I had some old, poor quality shots of this bird from the 70s and 80s, but had never managed to get any decent shots over the years. It is quite difficult to pack heavy photo gear into the locations where the bird occurs. In May, 2010, however, I did indeed pack some heavy equipment into the Chisos Mountains and was able to get a very few decent images of this bird. These shots were all taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 800mm F/5.6 L IS lens and 1.4X extender and 580 flash for fill.