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Thread: I Really don't like Empidonax Flycatchers

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    BPN Member Paul Lagasi's Avatar
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    Default I Really don't like Empidonax Flycatchers

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    I was in Cave Creek Research Station in Arizona (April 18, 2010) photographing Hummers, when this little Flycatcher came in for a drink.
    The thin eye ring, light wing bars, long tail, habitat...make me think Dusky or Gray but that would be a guess.

    I have sent this to lots of birder, photography friend's and they have told me what they think.

    What do You think?

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    Hi Paul. I hate empids too! The eye ring and the long primary tip projection past the secondaries says Hammond's to me. My 2cents!

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    Hmmmm. I'm certainly no expert on sight ID of empidonax but I'm leaning towards one of the "Western" Flycatchers for this one. Here's my thinking, FWIW:

    • I believe that Hammond's, Dusky, and Gray all normally have black tips to the underside of the bill. Your bird's lower mandible looks yellowish all the way out to the end. I may be overdependent on this mark, though, so don't take that as gospel.
    • The bird is rather green and isn't particularly brown, so this leans away from Alder and Willow. That nice eyering is also bad for Willow in particular.
    • I think the primary extension is too long for Least. The last two primary tips (P9 and P10) seem to have a big gap from the rest.
    • The eyering seems to be a little pointed at the back which is good for "Western".

    I think a "Western" in April in AZ is likely Cordilleron but that migrant Pacific Slope is also possible. Of course the splitting of the Western Flycatcher is somewhat controversial.

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    My vote is for Hammond's although Paul brings up a good point with the all yellow lower mandible.

  5. #5
    Dave Irons
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    The combination of large-looking head, shortish tail, long primary projection, and the whitish eyering with little post-ocular teardrop suggest Hammond's to me. The coloration of the lower mandible in Hammond's Flycatchers is more variable than the field guides would have you believe and I find that they can be fairly plastic when it comes to how long and wide the bill looks. Generally they seem to have narrow short bills that are all-dark, while other individuals pale lower mandibles and bills more suggestive of a Dusky Flycatcher. The head color seems to gray and the back is too olive (not green enough) for a "Western" type.

    Dave Irons
    Content Editor BirdFellow.com

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