In a message dated 5/24/2005 9:44:41 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
tangren.family at verizon.net writes:

> Can anyone help me with this identification? We have a cabin in the
>mountains of S. Cle Elum (elevation at over 3100') just east of Peoh Point.
>For the last two weekends there has been a flycatcher near our cabin.
>Hanging around and singing in the same spot. The call sounds the closest to
>gray flycatcher on the Thayer Birds of N. American disc. The tail appears
>to move downward (sometimes difficult to tell because of the winds) but
>other things don't seem to fit. The bird is not as gray as shown in
>Sibley's illustration. The tail DOES seem long and thin but it is a little
>brown compared to the rest of the bird. Could this bird appear in this
>area? This is first year we've had it. Penny Mulligan
>

Although Gray Flycatchers are not uncommon in Kittitas Co., 3100' is
a little high. What is the habitat around your cabin? Have you
considered Western Wood Pewee which would also show the downward tail
flip?

--Jerry <tangren.family at verizon.net>
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Hi -- I've always really liked the Gray Flycatcher because it's one of the
few empidonax flycatchers that, quite literally, sort of gently and relatively
slowly lowers its tail before bringing it back into its normal position. In
Arizona, it's often found in desert areas with mesquite,etc, and at elevations
of 2500' (as in the Tucson area) and above.
Incidentally : you mentioned the Thayer Bird Song tape . . we'd
like to add an audio source to the Peterson "Western Birding by Ear" . . . any
others you might recommend? Good luck with your bird -- please let us know
how the puzzle turns out!

(Mrs.) Murray Hansen
Graham, WA