Subject: [Tweeters] Re: wagtail, I don't think so (was: Mysteries solved)
Date: Jun 5 19:23:46 2005
From: Mike Patterson - celata at pacifier.com


When I looked these photos over the other day, this is the
one that caught my attention. Not because it's a wagtail,
however.....

I think wagtail can be eliminated for lots of reasons, but the
most obvious is the tail. It's not long enough, it's in an
atypical position for a wagtail AND it lacks white outer tail
feathers.

I agree it's a flycatcher, but the posture, tail length and
primary projection argue against an Empidonax. In subjective
mode, it seen a little too big also. If it is an Empidonax,
the eyering default is Willow Flycatcher....

This leaves us with Contopus, Myiarchus, and Sayornis. I feel
pretty comfortable dropping Myiarchus right away. On my monitor,
at least, it's too gray and the tail is dark. I also don't
think it's not gray enough for a Contopus.

I strongly lean toward Say's Phoebe, probably a transitional
second-year bird.

But as always, I'm willing to be talked out of it....

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

Go, and sin no more (ethics in birding)
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/002555.html