ML20162511

Age and sex

Unknown age, Male - X

Observation details

**MEGA. First North American/Western Hemisphere record. Not tremendously cooperative, but flight calling most of the time it was in view, and some of the time that it was out of view. Photos by Doug Gochfeld, Cory Gregory, Alison Világ, and Neil Hayward. Initially found by Cory Gregory while leading his group, and it called at least once, though views were brief, then twitched by my group and Alison. A short while later a group of us got better views and some really solid listens to the flight calls. Vocalizations short, thin, sparrow-like calls, without any sweetness, unlike the quality of Common Rosefinch/House Finch etc.-type calls. Back streaking obviously contrasty, and bold white lower wing-bar (greater covert tips), edging to the tertials, and tail feathers. Either a female or perhaps a young (2nd year?) male, as it was read on the head, rump, underparts (but with darker streaks in the reddish base color of the underparts). After giving the group a very nice, long flyby, it dipped over a ridge and out of sight, and we didn't see it again, despite some fairly thorough effort in the immediate vicinity.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

800

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

1004 pixels x 669 pixels

Original file size

507.84 KB