Flycatcher

[Stephen Stephen]

Can anyone help identify this flycatcher? I photographed it last month on the Earth University banana plantation - Guácimo, Limón, Costa Rica.

My poor guess is a Gray-capped Flycatcher.

Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500mm on Manfroto monopod.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Stephen

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'll take a stab at it. Not sure how far south these guys spend their winters, but the overall colours, with white throat and breast and pale tail edges may suggest Western Kingbird.

[Stephen Stephen]

Thanks Dan, I missed that species in my Birds of Costa Rica Guidebook. The Western Kingbird does occur there so I'll do a bit more sleuthing.

Here's that same bird from a different angle.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hi Stephen!

This guy looks a lot like a Tropical Kingbird, the Western Kingbird is really hart to spot. A tropical Kingbird has a forked tail, but the western has a square tail. Besides, the Tropical Kingbird can be found in almost all over the country, but the Western only along the Pacific side.

[David Tyrer]

Stephen: I agree that this looks more like a Tropical Kingbird. The yellow extending far up the breast is more indicative of this rather then a Western where the breast is more grey in colour. The tail on a Western is more black then brown which your example has which is indicative of Tropical.

[Paul Lagasi]

Well Stephen, I'll throw in my two cents, both Tropical and Couch's look very similar, both found in Costa Rica and very difficult to tell apart unless you hear the song....the bill on this one looks shorter, thicker (Couch's), Tropical Kingbirds bill is larger and longer. Call is best way to tell.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Well Stephen, I'll throw in my two cents, both Tropical and Couch's look very similar, both found in Costa Rica and very difficult to tell apart unless you hear the song....the bill on this one looks shorter, thicker (Couch's), Tropical Kingbirds bill is larger and longer. Call is best way to tell.

Paul...
if you see where the picture was taken you will then know that this bird can not be a Western Kingbird, since it can only be found on the Pacific side of Costa Rica and believe me, it is an uncommon species!:D
Besides, here in CR, we don't have Couch's Kingbird!

[Paul Lagasi]

Sorry Carlos, I never said it was a Western Kingbird...just the possibility it was a Couch's....I know they are in Belize, Guatamala and Mexico. I thought Couch's Kingbirds migrated to Central America...I guess they don't go to Costa Rica. Tropical Kingbird it is.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Sorry Carlos, I never said it was a Western Kingbird...just the possibility it was a Couch's....I know they are in Belize, Guatamala and Mexico. I thought Couch's Kingbirds migrated to Central America...I guess they don't go to Costa Rica. Tropical Kingbird it is.

You are very right Paul! :D

[Stephen Stephen]

Thank you everyone for this identification! My apologies for not replying sooner but I had checked back a few times and did not see any additional comments posted.

I'll go back now and modify my life list! :)