>At the risk of humiliating myself by discussing bird behavior with an
>expert like Dennis Paulson, I must say that the last two times I've been out
>birding I've observed very similar behavior in groups (I didn't say flocks)
>of flycatchers. I gave up trying to ID flycatchers the last time I
>mortified myself on OBOL; but some of the one's I've been seeing the last
>two weeks do have a yellowish cast (olive in bright light?) on their
>breasts.
>
>John Shelton
>Portland, Oregon

I'd say that even "groups" surprise me, as flycatchers in North America are
strictly nonsocial. There could well be small family groups, but I
wouldn't have expected them as late in the season as the report about which
I commented.

As far as coloration goes, maybe there's a problem of semantics. Lots of
flycatchers have yellowish washes on their bellies, but not very many on
their breasts. The word "breast" may be confusing the issue. ??

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416