Puzzling Empidonax

[KevinC]

Does anyone else find the little flycatchers to be a real challenge?

I see something like the one pictured, and then it seems to have characteristics of different species. The tail seems long, but the primaries also look fairly long. The beak is dark on top and bottom, but the eye-ring doesn't look complete.
I did not hear this one call at all. It was hunting in our backyard, which is somewhat-natural forest with big-leaf maples, hazelnut, dogwood, birch and some evergreens.

Any tips or thoughts on both this bird and identifying the different Empids in general?
I'm leaning toward Dusky on this one, but I'm not sure enough to call it.


DSC_2544e Empid. by Kevin C, on Flickr
DSC_2546e Empid. by Kevin C, on Flickr
DSC_2545e Empid. by Kevin C, on Flickr

[paulos]

My sense would be that this is a Hammond's. The bill is smaller and more uniformly dark than it would be on a Dusky. The longer primaries are indicative of a Hammond's, and the eye marks fit. I honestly find the tail hard to judge on any empidonax, though I think the tail length on this one is in the realm of possibility for Hammond's or Dusky. However the notched tail better fits a Hammond's. A Dusky would usually have a more squared tail (though I also find this a little inconsistent).

[KevinC]

Thanks, Paulos. My first thought was Hammond's, but then I started second-guessing and couldn't decide. I am hoping it hangs around so I can hear it at some point.

[expiallyd]

In my opinion, there is no such thing as a NON-puzzling empidonax, unless they are vocalizing. I had one in my yard a few days ago. Heard a whit noise and thought "willow flycatcher" and then it appeared. It looked very good for willow, but then I talked myself out of that because it was so early and the eyering was very distinct. I reported it as Hammond's but as a result of this discussion I know it was not a Hammond's: orange on the bill and definitely not a notched tail. So I have changed my ebird checklist to "empidonax sp." If only they would wear little ID tags.

[Gord]

Anne, I'd say Dusky Flycatcher? Whit call note similar to Willow is what comes to my mind when I see them.

Tail notch or lack of notch isn't a feature I put much weight on like Paul mentions as well.

If I get some time (haha funny concept! ) a post on some Empid basics might be fun to share.

Kevin, I'm confident with your Hammond's on that guy. Good photos.

[expiallyd]

Apr 30, 2019 21:46:03 GMT -8 Gord said:

Anne, I'd say Dusky Flycatcher? Whit call note similar to Willow is what comes to my mind when I see them.

Tail notch or lack of notch isn't a feature I put much weight on like Paul mentions as well.

If I get some time (haha funny concept! ) a post on some Empid basics might be fun to share.

Kevin, I'm confident with your Hammond's on that guy. Good photos.

Thanks for this suggestion, Gord. I had never seen a dusky (as far as I know) and I thought that they were much greyer.  But I have looked this up now and I see that they can be greenish on the back like a willow and have seen some photos that match my notes. 

[KevinC]

Expiallyd/Anne(?) - It would certainly help us if they had ID tags and all looked exactly like the books say they do, wouldn't it! Off-topic, but how do people know someone's real name if it differs from their screen name?

Gord - Thank you. I'll make sure I change eBird.

[expiallyd]

May 1, 2019 15:53:47 GMT -8 KevinC said:

Expiallyd/Anne(?) - It would certainly help us if they had ID tags and all looked exactly like the books say they do, wouldn't it! Off-topic, but how do people know someone's real name if it differs from their screen name?

Gord - Thank you. I'll make sure I change eBird.

I imagine that the whole point of having a screen name is that people may want to preserve anonymity for some reason.  Example: telling spouse they are at work when in fact they are spending the day at Iona Beach. Or telling work that they are sick when in fact they are spending the day at Iona Beach.  Not that that applies to me, of course -- I would never dream of doing such a thing. But here's a pic of a Harris's sparrow from Iona inner ponds yesterday.  And my name is Anne Toews, by the way. 

[KevinC]

Thanks, Anne. Nice to "meet" you!
It was just that Gord replied to you using your name, so I wondered whether I was missing something or whether he just knew you (I know the birding world is pretty small, so I figured that was the most likely).
Great shot of the Harris's Sparrow, btw! I saw it when I was at Iona a week or so ago, but did not have my camera with me It was a lifer for me, as was the Yellow-headed Blackbird.

[paulos]

A lot of us do run into each other in person, given that there are several more popular birding sites. Rare birds can also turn into forum meet up events: "Oh, you're Ed!" I have also been stopped while birding in my neighbourhood and asked if I was me, because I often report birds in Ryder Lake (not to pick on Ed here, but it was also him).

Also, we occasionally have birding events, like a Flatiron hike a couple years ago where I met a lot of people here.