Tweeters,

Well is that it? Is that all the excitement we can generate? Only three
tweeters willing to stand up and be recognized?

If you look at the Fork-tailed/Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Sibley's,
National Geographic, and Kaufman's bird guides you, or at least I, see the
body shape and proportions of "strange bird". Two tweeters and all but one
Flycatcher fan in Oregon see a Magpie. I didn't, until I examined this
photo.

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/htmsl/h4750pi.jpg

Now I'm OK, maybe a Magpie, and want to see what the mystery bird looks
like flying.

The coloration is still all messed up. I feel more so for a Magpie that a
Flycatcher.

Then there is the location factor. Lots of Magpies in Montana, but none of
these somewhat tropical flycatchers. Well maybe more than none. Sibley
puts one green dot in Montana for Scissor-tailed, and dots in Idaho and
Alberta for Fork-tailed.

When my Montana brother gets back from Alaska I'll see if there is a
correct answer for this strange bird. Perhaps it was collected.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah


> Tweeters,
>
> Are we up for another "name that bird" game? This has been on the OBL
> (Oregon Birders List) for a couple days. The picture was posted by Mike
> Patterson of Astoria. It's a bird photographed in the Bitterroot
> Valley, near Stevensville, Montana last fall.
>
> No one else in Oregon seems to think it's what I think it is. What do
> you tweeters want to call it? It is of course way to late in the month
> for an April fool.
>
> http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/MT_mystery.JPG
>
> Larry Schwitters
> Issaquah
>
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