ML134215781

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First seen about 1:00pm briefly and then seen for a more prolonged period (and heard) around 2:30pm. A small, compact passerine with olive brown upperparts and head with a contrasting whitish throat. Whitish eye ring. Plain whitish-gray undertail coverts. Contrasting bluish tail (duller and more gray than I would expect for a male). Underparts pale with slight buffy tinge. Namesake rufousy-buff coloration on the flanks. When seen for an extended period (a few minutes) while feeding on the ground at the base of a hedge, noted the tendency to flick tail. Overall jizz was consistent with that of an Old World (such as a "Whitestart"). Tendency to feed low or on the ground similar to the thrush, but overall size much smaller and much more flighty, frenetic manner. Dull colored legs. Thin dark bill (both upper and lower mandibles). Heard giving inquisitive "Su-weeet?" call loudly several times after appearing around 2:30pm. Unfortunately I cannot include my recording because apparently other birders were playing a tape (unbeknownst to the rest of us) and so I am not sure what vocalizations were from the tape, and what calls were from the bird.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 40D

ISO

1250

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/160 sec

Dimensions

770 pixels x 513 pixels

Original file size

101.54 KB