Western Flycatcher - fide R.Smith
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Fort De Soto Park
Pinellas, Florida, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 27.6327266, -82.718157
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

One well-photographed within the "Western" flycatcher complex (Pacific-sloped/Cordilleran). Lyn's discussion: "I went ahead and edited the second image of the WEFL in ventral view, since the head was at a slightly different angle. I was able to get photos of this empid ventrally, because the color pattern of the feathering eliminates virtually all other NA empids except possibly Yellow-bellied, although that species usually shows a stronger vested pattern—formed by greenish-olive feathering and the yellowish color of the belly projecting up into the breast. This particular WEFL shows the brownish-olive color dorsally that is typical of WEFL vs the more greenish-olive tone of Yellow-bellied. The head is peaked in all photos, classic WEFL, vs rounded in Yellow-bellied. The very prominent eye-ring with tear-drop projection distally and almost obsolete above the eye is classic WEFL. The eye-ring of Yellow-bellied is usually complete and even around the eye, although some do show just a hint of tear-drop posteriorly. The lower mandible of this WEFL is pinkish-colored unlike the apparently always orange-yellow lower mandible of Yellow-bellied (according to Whitney and Kaufman, Birding,Vol XVIII, No 6, "The Empidonax Challenge"). The wings are "dusky" typical of WEFL vs the very blackish tone of Yellow-bellied's wings. The tail is relatively long vs the relatively short tail of Yellow-bellied. When photos sent and reviewed by Michael Brothers, he mentioned the uneven spacing of the outer primaries typical of WEFL vs the even outer primary spacing of Yellow-bellied, which is supposed to be definitive in separating the two species. These are enough field marks to confirm the ID as WEFL. Based on the timing of the occurrence, I suspect this empid was a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, but without a recording of its call, I think we'll have to just be happy to get it accepted as WEFL.."

Technical information

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