Flycatcher or Wood Pewee?

[tuchp]

Had this little guy around my yard last summer. His behaviour was quite territorial, frequently chasing after other small birds! Could someone please help me determine whether it is a Wood Pewee or some type of Flycatcher. Thanks, Pat

[Dave]

Do you happen to know what the bird sounded like? I prefer to identify this group by voice alone. That said, I lean toward the Western Wood-Pewee as your beautiful shots show more of a peewee look than flycatcher. Check out those long wings, which Empidonax species usually do not have. Always a challenge! Other thoughts?

Dave

[fouram]

The "pointy head"--as Sibley's suggests I lean towards Western Pewee, however too new in the game--waiting on the "Guru's"-- ;D ;D--Al

[Gord]

I think wood-pewee is right on the money.

The dark face and undersides from chin to undertail and body structure is consistant for a wood-pewee. They're also a bit larger than the flycatchers. They are quite aggressive too as noted which is typical.

Dave made a very good point on listening to birds of this group. Most of the flycatchers cannot be %100 ID without hearing their calls as they're all painfully similar. Pewees are usually easy as they're always noisy making "Peyeer" (Pewee!) song.

[Deleted]

I agree with Gord. And Dave is right to emphasize the importance of vocalizations in indentifying flycatchers.

Fortunately the Western Wood-Pewee we have around here can be more reliably identified by sight as it differs from the rest of the flycatchers we might expect to see here in being quite noticeably darker than they are. Particularly it is quite dusky around the face and shows no trace of an eye-ring. It is all gray, whereas the others are lighter and have some degree of yellowish or greenish tone to them.

The Empidonax genus flycatchers are all much more alike in appearance and very difficult to separate without hearing them vocalize. And as I'm sure many of us are aware, they have the maddening habit of remaining silent except while nesting.

But to encourage those who are not very experienced, there is good news. The two Empidonax flycatcher species most likely to be found around here through the summer are the Willow Flycatcher and the Pacific-slope Flycatcher. They do differ quite markedly in their vocalizations, and in their habitat preferences. And fortunately the Pacific-slope has a much more prominent eye-ring than the Willow, so they are not impossible to identify.

However, I'm speaking from Abbotsford. I suspect you might have Hammond's Flycatcher nesting further east in the valley? If so, that would complicate things.

During migration we can get other similar species moving through, usually silent, and that's when the real challenges arise.

Stan

[tuchp]

Thank-you all for the expert information. I have poured over my field guides and hadn't been able to come to a positive ID. I am now leaning towards the Wood-Pewee. The time of year was July, beginning of Aug. and location - rural S. Langley, so it was not further east of Abbotsford. It did not seem to have a noticeable eye ring - but it did, in certain light, have a bit of orange on the lower mandible. I wish I could report on it's call or song, but I am no help there. One of my field guides said that Wood-Pewees prefer the canopies and tops of trees but this little guy seemed to be mostly on the fence or lower tree branches around the pond. Again, I greatly appreciate the input! --Pat

[Gord]

Good observation on the orange on the bill. An eye for little details is key for helping seperate the tougher species in the field. There's no doubt to me that this is a western wood-pewee, but I do agree on it's choice of habitat. Generally they seem to enjoy the middle canopies from my observations with them coming down low not unheard of, but not typical. I dont think Ive seen one on a fence before.

Stan, Hammond's flycatcher is common up the Chilliwack River Valley where they breed which makes three species of common flycatcher to consider. The Hammond's is usually up high and more often heard than seen. Least flycatcher is regular, uncommon but common enough to be considered. Happily they have a distintive song when they choose to do it.

Im sure we get a couple more species at least during migration too but I try to ignore them during this time and find myself re-tying my shoelaces or something until Im sure it's gone. (just kidding)