Oh, boy. I saw something today I simply could not ID, and I was hoping
someone out there could help.

It was about the size and shape of a large warbler (bigger than a
Wilson's, more or less the same size as a butterbutt), olive green above
and light below. At first I thought it was a warbler, but then I saw it
had wing bars and a prominent eye ring and perched with its tail pointed
down. It also had a small crest. This would seem to indicate some
species of Empidonax.

The throat was whitish, the belly had a yellowish cast, and there was a
grayish vest. The beak was quite small, like a warbler's. I never heard
it sing, but it would give a call, a single high, crisp, short note.

The coloration (admittedly infamously misleading in empids), beak, and
call would seem to indicate Hammond's flycatcher, but these are only
supposed to live in deep forests at high elevations.

Based on range maps, this could be a Hammond's, Willow, Pacific-slope, or
possibly even Alder Flycatcher. It was not very yellow below (the throat
not at all), and the beak was small, which would tend to suggest it was
not a Pacific-slope.

Are there any reliable field marks you all could suggest I look for if I
see it again? Help!

Thanks,

Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(253)535-7045
pharrinj at plu.edu