Hello All,
Another flycatcher heard from. In southeastern Washington, already the home of one dubious flycatcher split, I have heard many different calls and early season songs pouring from seemingly classic Alder Flycatchers only to have the individual morph into your classic Willow Flycatcher and leave me thinking that maybe yet another poor split has occurred. No I have not read all the papers that prove how the Alder-Willow split was a great idea , but I do know that we have much to figure out before the next flycatcher species is created. I believe that it would be a great idea to try and understand what we have already created within the flycatcher clan prior to our next creation. Regional variation within species seems to be ignored at times. We in North America are fast re-approaching the same species list I find in my Handbook of Birds of the Western United States by F. M. Bailey, 1927. I completely enjoy the gull, flycatcher and fox sparrow species discussions as I also struggle with many aspects of these groups identification. Thanks again.
Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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