What species am I?


Posted by Steve Metildi on Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:24 am

All times are UTC-05:00

Reply to topic  
 First unread post  | 14 posts | 
All I'm going to tell you is that this was taken in the Western United States. Take your best shot. Your an expert if you can get this one.

Nikon D1X, 600mm w/ 1.4X TC, no flash

Steve Metildi
Image

Posted by:
Steve Metildi
Lifetime Member
Location: Orange County, CA
Member #:00266
Posts: 10
Joined: 3 Mar 2004

   

by Terence P. Brashear on Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:29 am
User avatar
Terence P. Brashear
Forum Contributor
Posts: 4436
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Member #:00600
Without knowing what is sounds like I would not ID it to species. Safer to say it is a Empidonax flycatcher. That whole complex is notorious for being difficult to separate by site only.

Regards,

Terry
Terence P. Brashear
San Diego, CA
http://www.naturepixels.com
NSN #600
 

by Mike Danzenbaker on Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:33 am
Mike Danzenbaker
Lifetime Member
Posts: 3683
Joined: 1 Sep 2003
Member #:00559
Time of year and specific location would be helpful too.

It doesn't quite have the tear-shaped eyering I'm used to, but I'll guess Pacific-Slope Flycatcher anyway.
"Animal instinct is more amazing than human ingenuity."

Mike
http://www.avesphoto.com
 

by Abe Borker on Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:06 am
User avatar
Abe Borker
NANPA Scholar
Posts: 767
Joined: 15 Nov 2003
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca
I'll go with Pacific Slope as well, beautiful clean shot
-Abe Borker
[url=http://www.abeborker.com/]www.AbeBorker.com[/url]
Santa Cruz, CA
 

by Steve Metildi on Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:50 am
Steve Metildi
Lifetime Member
Posts: 10
Joined: 3 Mar 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Member #:00266
Mike Danzenbaker wrote:Time of year and specific location would be helpful too.

It doesn't quite have the tear-shaped eyering I'm used to, but I'll guess Pacific-Slope Flycatcher anyway.
Another hint--Patagonia Lake, AZ in December
 

by Ken Newcombe on Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:12 pm
User avatar
Ken Newcombe
Forum Contributor
Posts: 1394
Joined: 14 Sep 2003
Location: Dundas, Ontario, Canada
Gray Flycatcher
 

by Mike Danzenbaker on Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:47 pm
Mike Danzenbaker
Lifetime Member
Posts: 3683
Joined: 1 Sep 2003
Member #:00559
I've never seen a Gray Flycatcher with this coloration, but it's sure got the bill for that species. Perhaps in December, it could look this yellowish.
"Animal instinct is more amazing than human ingenuity."

Mike
http://www.avesphoto.com
 

by Steve Roman on Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:52 pm
User avatar
Steve Roman
Lifetime Member
Posts: 5525
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Location: Dripping Springs, Texas
Member #:00416
I would like to see a side view of the bird, but I'd say Dusky Flycatcher or possibly a Gray Flycatcher, the bill appears too long for a Hammond's . The warm lighting may be masking the true color.
Steve Roman
Champlin, MN
[b]NSN 0416[/b]
 

by Brandon Holden on Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:27 pm
Brandon Holden
Forum Contributor
Posts: 2350
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
I'd have to say Gray Flycatcher. Probably a first year bird, because it is so greenish. There appears to be a pale streak across the forehead, which is shown by Gray Flycatcher. Gray Flycatcher would also be the expected species in this area during winter.

And by the way, its a great photo. :wink:

Good Birding

Brandon Holden
17
Hamilton Ontario
Photographer AND Birder
 

by Jill on Wed Apr 07, 2004 7:16 pm
User avatar
Jill
Forum Contributor
Posts: 2978
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Miami FL
Sweet shot, Steve !! Having great patience, I'll await your answer. :wink: 8)
Jill Rosenfield
 

by Alan Murphy on Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:35 pm
User avatar
Alan Murphy
Lifetime Member
Posts: 27330
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Member #:00014
Lets not get so caught up so much in the ID that we pass on saying how sweet the photo is. Awesome work Steve.
Alan Murphy
NSN 0014
www.alanmurphyphotography.com
 

by Harvey Edelman on Thu Apr 08, 2004 7:10 am
Harvey Edelman
Forum Contributor
Posts: 5863
Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Location: Florida
Sweet shot regardless if the ID.
Harvey Edelman
0145
http://www.harveyedelman.com
 

by Steve Metildi on Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:01 am
Steve Metildi
Lifetime Member
Posts: 10
Joined: 3 Mar 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Member #:00266
OK, I've given everyone a day to try this. Congratulations Brandon and Ken you are correct it is a Gray Flycatcher photographed at Patagonia Lake, Arizona last December. The rest of you had the correct genus. I was with a local expert who identified it by sound before seeing the bird and then by its tail movements. Personally, I would have been looking at field guides for an hour trying to figure out which Empidonax species it could be.

To the rest of you thanks for you compliments and comments.
 

by Sandy Mossberg on Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:10 am
User avatar
Sandy Mossberg
Lifetime Member
Posts: 5802
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Boynton Beach, FL USA
An outstanding shot, Steve. Framing is right on.
Sandy Mossberg
Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
[url=http://www.sandymossberg.com][b]SandyMossberg.com[/b][/url]
NSN 0015
 

Display posts from previous:  Sort by:  
14 posts | 

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group