Bird ID People and Tweeters,

I believe John Miles has hit the nail on the head when he states that
Willow and Alder Flycatchers cannot be reliably identified in the
field by visual field marks alone. That is the main reason why I
questioned Steve Mlodinow's report on July 31, in which he reported an
apparent Willow Flycatcher giving an Alder Flycatcher call on Whidbey
Island in western Washington.

If the Whidbey Island bird was indeed giving a typical Alder
Flycatcher chip note, then it seems more likely to me that the bird
actually was an Alder Flycatcher, rather than a "Willow Flycatcher
giving an Alder Flycatcher call".
This is not quite as unlikely as it sounds. Granted, Willow Flycatcher
is a common breeding bird in western Washington, and Alder Flycatcher
is not known to breed in the state. However, Alder Flycatchers do
breed in British Columbia less than 100 miles north of the US/Canada
border (admittedly, east of the Cascades rather than west of them).
There are a number of June-July records in Washington and Oregon of
other "eastern" bird species that breed west to northeastern BC (e.g.
Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee warbler, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak), and an Alder Flycatcher in July on Whidbey Island would be
highly unusual, but not impossible.

As for the use of the term "Traill's Flycatcher"--- I prefer to use
"Willow/Alder Flycatcher" for birds which could be one or the other,
just as I often record in my field notes "Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal"
or "Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk". If the Banding Office insists on
using "Traill's Flycatcher" for undifferentiated Willow/Alder types,
that's fine for banders. However, the "Traill's Flycatcher" has been
totally discredited as a species, and Willow and Alder Flycatchers are
very unlikely to be re-lumped. I feel that continuing to use the term
"Traill's Flycatcher" perpetuates the impression that Willow and Alder
are very closely related-- which may not, in fact, be the case-- and
should be discouraged.

It's unfortunate that Steve apparently was unable to tape the call of
the Whidbey Island bird. A tape recording might have provided much
better evidence as to whether this bird was or was not an Alder
Flycatcher. In 1991, I missed an opportunity to document what might
have been the first Alder Flycatcher for Washington--- a bird that was
repeatedly singing along the Similkameen River west of Oroville, close
to the Canadian border. I didn't have a blank cassette with me at the
time! Although I notified the state Rare Bird Alert, the bird was not
found again. I did not submit a report to the Washington State records
committee, because I could not provide proof that this bird was an
Alder. Observer descriptions of the same song can vary widely (e.g.,
is it two-noted or three-noted?), and only a recording would provide
objective evidence that could easily be verified. (I now carry blank
cassettes in my car at all times!)

It would really help if people reporting out-of-range Empidonax
flycatchers, or supposedly unusual calls, would make a real effort to
record the vocalizations. This would eliminate much of the confusion
from the discussion, and make possible objective comparisons with
known-identity birds.

Once again, further input on this subject would be welcomed!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net



----- Original Message -----
From: John Miles <miles at KWIC.COM>
To: <BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 5:36 PM
Subject: [BIRDWG01] {BIRDWG01} Traill's Calls


The Bird Banding Laboratory a couple of years ago sent out a memo to
banders not to use the measurements in Pyle or from any other source.
Willows are only to be separated from Alders during breeding season in
proper habitat if seen calling before they are caught. Apparently this
stems from someone banding Willows in Alaska using the measurements
in Pyle where Willows are not known to exist.

I have been birding for nearly 50 years and banding for over 40 years.
I
handle 50-100 Traill's every year. They are impossible to separate in
the
hand on plumage so to do it in the field as some claim to do is
amusing.
I know of at least one major museum who used measurements to separate
their collection when the spilt came, so even specimens cannot be
separated by plumage by experienced people.

John Miles
Jarvis, Ont
N0A 1J0