ML644722727

Observation details

First seen at 9am and reported as a possible Ash-throated, with leanings towards Brown Crested Flycatcher. Returned this afternoon to gather additional field and photographic evidence. Overall, this was a large flycatcher with a hooked bill, and a brownish peaked head and pale whitish throat leading to a yellow belly. The yellow appeared softer and lighter in the afternoon light compared to the brighter yellow in the backlit viewing from the morning. The wings had rufous on the outer feathers and the undertail was also rufous, outlined in black. In the best tail photos we captured, you can see the black bleed across the web to the other side of the feather, typical of BCFL. It does not wrap around the tip like ATFL or only stay on one side of the web like the GCFL. The flycatcher was extremely skittish, not performing normal flycatching. It hid low in the brush and was easily startled by other birds and people if approached. Most photographs were taken from a distance or through dense brush. See additional notes in the Notes section of the checklist. Refer to earlier checklist for additional photos of the flycatcher. North American Flycatcher author Cin- Ty Lee provided the following analysis of the photos the following day in reference to comparison between GCFL and BCFL: It has some features of GC, but I don’t think it’s a GC. The primary projection (relative to the length of the longest tertials) is quite short. Also, the bill is quite thick. The chest and face are also relatively pale compared to crown. GC typically has a darker chest and face than this bird. The tail seems quite wide. The dark outer margins to the outertails seem too thick, though this is hard to see. Also, the secondary edges are white except for the outermost secondary which is rufous. Pale base to bill more prevalent on GC, but BC can also show this. The lower rear quarter eye-ring is a feature of GC, but I really don’t see it well developed on this bird.