ML620202916

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First noticed in the Jack Green Nature Area while trying to re-find the Bay-breasted. Obviously a wood-pewee by size, marked utcs and long primary projection. Immediately stood out as potential Eastern candidate though due to almost entirely orange lower mandible, strong wing bars that appeared equal in brightness and, most interesting to me, the fact that (at least when I first saw it) it was perched oddly with its tail somewhat tucked (an apparent behavior often shown by Eastern I remembered from Birch/Lee). Unfortunately, it was silent. I watched it for a bit then went to get Curtis to show him my "interesting pewee". After looking at it in his scope he said that it looked at least as good as the San Diego bird. And thankfully, it called spontaneously right before attempting playback to get it to vocalize: a rising whistled "pee-WEE" diagnostic of Eastern which I was familiar with having heard it multiple times just a few days prior in San Diego. This bird was very greenish in most light and had a thin eye ring that was strongest posteriorly. Another structural detail I only noticed after looking at my photos is that when the tail is held in line with the body the tail projection appears to be longer than the primary projection - another apparent field mark for Eastern per Birch/Lee. Photos and audio.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

1250

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

2672 pixels x 1781 pixels

Original file size

1.1 MB