In his post to Tweeters this afternoon, Gene Hunn said that: " . . . while
Couch's is much less likely, it should still be considered . . .". Last
week Gene said there had never been a substantiated sighting of a Couch's
Kingbird in the western U.S. If that is true, what are the chances of a
Couch's showing up in the Pacific Northwest? Much, much, much less likely
than a Tropical. Perhaps even too much less likely to be considered.
Perhaps if we lived in Albuquerque we should be on the lookout for a
Couch's. But we don't.

There have been sightings in the northwest in the past few weeks that are
being recorded as "Tropical/Couch's Kingbird" because of a very remote
chance that the bird might have been a Couch's, especially since the bird
was seen and not heard. If the chance of a Couch's Kingbird is so remote,
why confuse the issue?

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA