Mystery Backyard Bird-ID help please

[Julie Brown]

The little hook on the bill-is this an immature flycatcher? This bird was foraging high in a tree the other day, but today it was almost at eye level in a bush in my yard in Indianapolis. This is a large crop.

[Paul Guris]

The long, slim bill and large amount of white on the undertail look like Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher to me.

[Julie Brown]

The long, slim bill and large amount of white on the undertail look like Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher to me.

Thanks, Paul. I thought of that too, but the face of this bird just did not look like any blue-gray gnatcatcher that I had photographed before. It looks so disheveled from this angle. Is this an immature bird and is that a hint of an eye-ring?

[Paul Guris]

It looks like a juvenile. At this time of the year the adults should have pretty worn plumage. If you look at the feather tract right near the bend of the wing (partially obscured by the branch), the feathers look fresh with nice, pale edges. The bill is showing a lot of yellow going right back to the gape, which I would not expect on an adult. The bird does show a bit of an eyering, though those feathers look pretty messy at this point.

So probably a juvenile that hasn't gone to it's first basic plumage, i.e. the one it will have when it migrates south. Many songbirds put on a short-lived juvenile plumage with poorly formed feathers to get out of the nest. They molt again before fall migration into structurally sound feathers.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Julie! I would agree with Paul, based on the info he provided... even with a big crop... really nice capture.

[Julie Brown]

Thanks Sandy. This is a new bird for my yard. I appreciate that kind of info, Paul. It is very helpful in the learning process, and fun to know too. Here is another look at a different pose. Also a big crop.

[Paul Guris]

That last pose just screams gnatcatcher.