Short dark bill and long primary projection = Hammond’s
Flycatcher.
Cliff
On 9/11/23 11:28AM, Robert Kiernan
wrote:
wrote:
Gray or what??
-- Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@...
Category Archives: Listserv Posts
Re: Fly catcher
This looks like a Hammond’s (rather long primary projection, looks like a rather short bill).
John Shortis.
On Monday, September 11, 2023 at 11:28:19 AM MDT, Robert Kiernan <photobirder@…> wrote:
Gray or what??
Fly catcher
Gray or what??
Re: Gray Flyatcher
And one of the Gray Flycatchers at Blacks Creek did not have a tail 🙂
On Sep 11, 2023, at 9:03 AM, Heidi Ware Carlisle <heidithebirdnerd@…> wrote:
In general I advise folks to use other ID cues first before tail dropping.It’s tough until you’ve seen a for-sure Gray Flycatcher tail dropping because many other empids, especially Dusky, do a lot of tail flicking that could be interpreted as tail dropping. There are many Dusky features that vary enough to overlap with Gray pretty frequently which makes separating those two especially tough.In the case of Willow vs Gray though I would hope that the very brown body (vs gray) and very wide pale bill (vs narrow with a dark tip) would help.Based on photos in eBird there was definitely a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek. Nice to have good documentation this year!On Sat, Sep 9, 2023, 11:54 AM John Shortis via groups.io <john_shortis=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:Hi birders all,I just wanted to make an observation following the sightings of a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek Reservoir by several birders recently.I have seen at least Willow Flycatchers exhibiting rather similar tail movements that characterize Gray.I just wonder if this can be fully relied upon to id the latter.Any thoughts?John Shortis.
Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
Re: Gray Flyatcher
Good advice Heidi!
Thanks,
John
On Monday, September 11, 2023 at 09:03:25 AM MDT, Heidi Ware Carlisle <heidithebirdnerd@…> wrote:
In general I advise folks to use other ID cues first before tail dropping.
It’s tough until you’ve seen a for-sure Gray Flycatcher tail dropping because many other empids, especially Dusky, do a lot of tail flicking that could be interpreted as tail dropping. There are many Dusky features that vary enough to overlap with Gray pretty frequently which makes separating those two especially tough.
In the case of Willow vs Gray though I would hope that the very brown body (vs gray) and very wide pale bill (vs narrow with a dark tip) would help.
Based on photos in eBird there was definitely a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek. Nice to have good documentation this year!
Re: Gray Flyatcher
In general I advise folks to use other ID cues first before tail dropping.
It’s tough until you’ve seen a for-sure Gray Flycatcher tail dropping because many other empids, especially Dusky, do a lot of tail flicking that could be interpreted as tail dropping. There are many Dusky features that vary enough to overlap with Gray pretty frequently which makes separating those two especially tough.
In the case of Willow vs Gray though I would hope that the very brown body (vs gray) and very wide pale bill (vs narrow with a dark tip) would help.
Based on photos in eBird there was definitely a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek. Nice to have good documentation this year!
L. Lowell
Lower dam 8:am 6 sanderling on steps Helen’s pond 2 juv.night crown
Cassin’s Vireo
Trained binoculars on a group of half dozen birds flitting through backyard cottonwoods. Turned out to be Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Then, off to the side, another bird caught my attention: a Cassin’s Vireo. A few Red-breasted Nuthatches are busy gathering sunflower seeds from the feeder. As well, two 1st-yr White-crowned Sparrows came in. Lastly, an adult Bald Eagle did a fly-over, the yard, at treetop level.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Gray Flyatcher
John,
I have seen a similar down up tail wag, although erratic and unreliable, with willow flycatchers here in Gem County and Valley County. I had to study my photos at home and get a good look at the color to make the distinction as they were not vocalizing. Great topic.
Liz
Gray Flyatcher
Hi birders all,
I just wanted to make an observation following the sightings of a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek Reservoir by several birders recently.
I have seen at least Willow Flycatchers exhibiting rather similar tail movements that characterize Gray.
I just wonder if this can be fully relied upon to id the latter.
Any thoughts?
John Shortis.