ML32263871

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Rare to see this species in our area in the fall, so I tried to make this into something else but only Gray fit. Empid with short primary projection, smallish, rounded head (unlike Hammond's or Willow) and a thin white eye ring (rounded, unlike Pacific-slope). Had a slightly longish and slightly flared tail with doubly rounded end (unlike Willow) and thin white outer edges (unlike other empids). Bill longer and thicker-based than Dusky or Hammond's, with yellow farther out on the lower mandible, more similar to Willow. The lores, cheek, and auricular areas were paler than a Willow would have, and the eye ring was more obvious. Fall individual more olive-gray on the back and browner-gray-tinted on the sides, crown, and tail than a spring individual would be, but not as dark or brown as a Willow, and with more prominent wing bars. The open habitat seemed better for Gray than other empids as well. I heard a "wit" note twice but it was not helpful in distinguishing between other empids to me. Distinctive behavior of dipping its tail like a Black Phoebe does was observed twice. Two enlarged photos demonstrate some of the described features:

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

200

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

2117 pixels x 1504 pixels

Original file size

901.11 KB