Thanks to all who have added to this discussion. Several times it has been
mentioned that birders may hear the same bird and give differing verbal
descriptions of what the bird sounded like. So, when documenting a rarity
like Alder
Flycatcher a recording is the way to go. So if we get a good quality
recording and then
a sonogram, then what? What do we compare it to with confidence?

Is there a definitive study out there on Alder vocalizations that we could
use as a base of info on vocals for this species. Hopefully one that has
looked
at vocals from across the range. Looking at Sibley, the Alder
has a very large range. If they all sound the same from across this range,
has this been
documented with sonograms? What repository of Alder sonograms from
throughout
the range do we examine? Where does a state bird records committee go?
If comparative sonograms are not reflective of the range of the species and
possibly some examples of known individual variation the process of
comparison could be flawed. Museums have specimens of many individuals of
the same species to show the range of variation. Hopefully the same is true
for bird sound.

Since Washington is out of the main range for Alder could some or most
of these Alder candidates be hybrids with Willow? What would a hybrid sound
like?

Sorry for all the questions but when thinking about the Alder/Willow ID in
WA State, I wonder if we really have the answers.

I have listened to Willow Flycatchers quite a bit and I can sometimes
hear variations in the song in just the same patch from different birds.
Hearing protection I used at those Grateful Dead concerts was a good thing.

Dave Beaudette
Wenatchee,WA
drtbrdr at earthlink.net