Bird ID


Tom & Susan Soniville
 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Jay Carlisle
 

Hi Tom

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

Thanks,

Jay
On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:


One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Tom & Susan Soniville
 

Jay,

The flycatcher was at the west end of the park, backside of the pond, along the path. Saw it yesterday, late AM.

I have more pics that I can send later today.

Tom


-------- Original message --------
From: "Jay Carlisle via groups.io" <carlislejay@...>
Date: 11/21/22 10:34 PM (GMT-07:00)
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

Hi Tom

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

Thanks,

Jay
On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:


One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End

--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Tom & Susan Soniville
 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Jay Carlisle
 

Thanks Tom

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

Thanks,

Jay

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:


Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Tom & Susan Soniville
 

Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Lucian Davis
 

Getting a bit into the weeds here and heavily speculating, but between the two groups of Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope and Cordilleran), Pacific-slope has slightly shorter wing morphology. If the much higher number of "Pacific-slopes" vs "Cordillerans" banded at Lucky Peak has any bearing on which birds are more frequently seen in Boise (and this is a big if, the formula we use to differentiate this might not actually mean anything), maybe the projection is just long for the Westerns we typically see? I doubt this is obvious enough to be able to tell in the field and I definitely don't have the experience to say, but Jay maybe you could say if the difference could be discernable?

PS, Tom - if we settle on Western for this bird, could I use these photos with credit for a presentation on Western Flycatchers I'm giving for SIBA in December? Always nice to have photos from local photographers to feature! 

Thanks!
Lucian

On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 12:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Carter Strope
 

Hey all,

FWIW I think this bird looks good for a Western. I really tried to turn it into a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, but I think the primary projection, although eye-catching, appears to be within range for Western (particularly for an out of season bird of indeterminate origin) and I can't find any other fault with that ID. 

I think the tipping point for me is the extent of buffy fringing in the secondaries. Yellow-bellied tend to have much more restricted fringing here, particularly at the outermost secondary or S1 (I'll attach a figure that shows what I'm referring to here). 

The thick eye-ring, facial structure/appearance, and lack of notable contrast point me away from Acadian as well.

Would love to hear what others think, but based off of these photos I would lean Western.

Best,
Carter


On Tue, Nov 22, 2022, 14:56 Lucian Davis <lucianjdavis@...> wrote:
Getting a bit into the weeds here and heavily speculating, but between the two groups of Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope and Cordilleran), Pacific-slope has slightly shorter wing morphology. If the much higher number of "Pacific-slopes" vs "Cordillerans" banded at Lucky Peak has any bearing on which birds are more frequently seen in Boise (and this is a big if, the formula we use to differentiate this might not actually mean anything), maybe the projection is just long for the Westerns we typically see? I doubt this is obvious enough to be able to tell in the field and I definitely don't have the experience to say, but Jay maybe you could say if the difference could be discernable?

PS, Tom - if we settle on Western for this bird, could I use these photos with credit for a presentation on Western Flycatchers I'm giving for SIBA in December? Always nice to have photos from local photographers to feature! 

Thanks!
Lucian

On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 12:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Tom & Susan Soniville
 

Lucian,

If the pics prove useful, you have my permission to use them.

Tom






-------- Original message --------
From: Lucian Davis <lucianjdavis@...>
Date: 11/22/22 2:56 PM (GMT-07:00)
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

Getting a bit into the weeds here and heavily speculating, but between the two groups of Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope and Cordilleran), Pacific-slope has slightly shorter wing morphology. If the much higher number of "Pacific-slopes" vs "Cordillerans" banded at Lucky Peak has any bearing on which birds are more frequently seen in Boise (and this is a big if, the formula we use to differentiate this might not actually mean anything), maybe the projection is just long for the Westerns we typically see? I doubt this is obvious enough to be able to tell in the field and I definitely don't have the experience to say, but Jay maybe you could say if the difference could be discernable?

PS, Tom - if we settle on Western for this bird, could I use these photos with credit for a presentation on Western Flycatchers I'm giving for SIBA in December? Always nice to have photos from local photographers to feature! 

Thanks!
Lucian

On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 12:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


Richard and Ann Rusnak
 

Great pics Tom!
Sticking my neck out, any likelihood for a Pacific slope FC? Hope it finds its way soon. We  photographed this PSFC at Torrey Pines SP, San Diego, Sept, 22
Happy and safe birding, Rich
image0.jpeg


On Nov 22, 2022, at 12:47 PM, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:



Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End
<DSC_4204m1.jpg>


Jay Carlisle
 

I heard back from a couple east coast birders who concur with Carter's take (& Rich too) of a "Western".  And, as I already told Carter, his tip about the fieldmark regarding the edging on the secondaries blew my mind :-)  Hadn't heard of this but now I'll look for it on any "Western" that has tantalizingly long primaries!

Will be interesting to see if this bird lingers and if anyone else gets lucky enough to see it.

Thanks,

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 04:35:50 PM MST, Richard and Ann Rusnak <rarusnak62@...> wrote:


Great pics Tom!
Sticking my neck out, any likelihood for a Pacific slope FC? Hope it finds its way soon. We  photographed this PSFC at Torrey Pines SP, San Diego, Sept, 22
Happy and safe birding, Rich
image0.jpeg


On Nov 22, 2022, at 12:47 PM, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:



Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End
<DSC_4204m1.jpg>


Peter Olsoy
 

Katie and I saw the Western Flycatcher again earlier today and got photos from various angles, which we added to our eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123453146

It was foraging on the ground and going from low branch to low branch, not where I'm used to seeing Empids. One of the photos shows it with very wet feathers. I hope it can make it through this winter weather...

Peter

On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 10:11 PM Jay Carlisle via groups.io <carlislejay=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
I heard back from a couple east coast birders who concur with Carter's take (& Rich too) of a "Western".  And, as I already told Carter, his tip about the fieldmark regarding the edging on the secondaries blew my mind :-)  Hadn't heard of this but now I'll look for it on any "Western" that has tantalizingly long primaries!

Will be interesting to see if this bird lingers and if anyone else gets lucky enough to see it.

Thanks,

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 04:35:50 PM MST, Richard and Ann Rusnak <rarusnak62@...> wrote:


Great pics Tom!
Sticking my neck out, any likelihood for a Pacific slope FC? Hope it finds its way soon. We  photographed this PSFC at Torrey Pines SP, San Diego, Sept, 22
Happy and safe birding, Rich
image0.jpeg


On Nov 22, 2022, at 12:47 PM, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:



Jay,

 

One more pic with a slightly different perspective. Maybe it will help.

 

Thanks for the information on the bird.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:32 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Thanks Tom

 

This bird is intriguing.  Overall matches a Cordilleran ("Western") Flycatcher in many respects but one of the key fieldmarks (to separate this from even rarer possibilities) is the primary projection - how far the primaries extend past the secondaries when the wing is folded.  Since this bird isn't completely folding its wings in any of these pictures (probably because it's COLD!), that makes it hard to judge but it appears longer than usual to me.  I've just sent this to a few friends back east to get their impression ...

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 09:28:36 AM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

Jay, here are more pics. It was hanging out in the same area as a few ruby crowned kinglets.

 

Tom

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jay Carlisle via groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Bird ID

 

Hi Tom

 

Was this from today?!  Which part of the park?  That's quite late (2+ months) for an Empidonax flycatcher to be still hanging around at this latitude!  Any other photos of this bird?

 

Thanks,

 

Jay

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at 08:21:49 PM MST, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@...> wrote:

 

 

One last bird from Kathryn Albertson: I think this is a Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End


--
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End
<DSC_4204m1.jpg>