[Birdtalk] Agree with Cliff

Tue Aug 5 16:29:59 MDT 2008

<forwarded from Mark Stackhouse>

I have to agree with Cliff on this one, though I'm not sure which  
empid it is, it's clearly an empid, and NOT a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  
The posture of the perched bird, the head shape and size, and the tail  
length all point to a small flycatcher of the genus Empidonax, and are  
not consistent with a kinglet. As Cliff points out, the bill is also  
too wide for a kinglet. I didn't respond initially because I wasn't,  
and still am not, sure whether it's a Dusky or Hammond's Flycatcher,  
but it's almost certainly one of the two. The bill isn't as wide as  
empids such as Willow or Cordilleran. The bill seems too short, and  
there also appears to be too much green for a Gray Flycatcher. The  
small bill and greenish tones (that could be artifacts of the photo)  
suggest Hammond's to me, but the long tail, which is less likely due  
to photographic illusions, would point to Dusky. Although the apparent  
habitat would support Dusky, the leafless trees tell me that this is a  
spring, or perhaps fall, photo, and habitat is only reliable during  
breeding season, so not much help here.

Hope this helps. This is yet another example of why shape and behavior  
(as in the posture of the bird in this case) are more important field  
marks than coloration - you can't even get to the right family by  
focusing on color.

Mark

Mark Stackhouse

On Aug 4, 2008, at 10:32 PM, Cliff and Lisa Weisse wrote:

> Doug,
>
> This is not a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.   The bill is way too wide and  
> the tail is too long.  I sent you a personal email suggesting it is  
> an Empid.  That note is pasted below.
>
> Good birding.
>
> Cliff
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> This looks like a Dusky Flycatcher to me.  It's definitely a  
> flycatcher in the Empidonax group and the gray head contrasting with  
> the olive back looks right for Hammond's/Dusky.  Hammond's are found  
> in coniferous habitats (especially mature Douglas Firs here in  
> Island Park), Dusky's prefer deciduous habitats including Aspens.   
> Hope this helps.
>
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">I have to agree with Cliff on =
this one, though I'm not sure which empid it is, it's clearly an empid, =
and NOT a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The posture of the perched bird, the =
head shape and size, and the tail length all point to a small flycatcher =
of the genus <i>Empidonax</i>, and are not consistent with a kinglet. As =
Cliff points out, the bill is also too wide for a kinglet. I didn't =
respond initially because I wasn't, and still am not, sure whether it's =
a Dusky or Hammond's Flycatcher, but it's almost certainly one of the =
two. The bill isn't as wide as empids such as Willow or Cordilleran. The =
bill seems too short, and there also appears to be too much green for a =
Gray Flycatcher. The small bill and greenish tones (that could be =
artifacts of the photo) suggest Hammond's to me, but the long tail, =
which is less likely due to photographic illusions, would point to =
Dusky. Although the apparent habitat would support Dusky, the leafless =
trees tell me that this is a spring, or perhaps fall, photo, and habitat =
is only reliable during breeding season, so not much help =
here.<div><br></div><div>Hope this helps. This is yet another example of =
why shape and behavior (as in the posture of the bird in this case) are =
more important field marks than coloration - you can't even get to the =
right family by focusing on =
color.</div><div><br></div><div>Mark</div><div><br><div =
apple-content-edited=3D"true"> <span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; =
font-weight: normal; let