Date: 3/28/24 11:20 am From: Jim Holmes via groups.io <jfholmes...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Possible Western Flycather
Mason,
Thanks for the photos.
When I first looked at the photo on my phone I felt that it looked good for Western and if I saw that bird out here in California, I probably would not look at it a 2nd time.
When, I looked on my computer screen, however, I was less optimistic so I sent it to a few experts out here.
The response so far has been mixed between lean to YBFL, not able to rule out either and could be Western but need more photos.
As for your thoughts, any of the Empidonax can have that crested look, especially when interacting with another bird. There are plenty of photos in eBird of crested appearing YBFL.
There are also plenty of images in eBird of YBFL with a similar eye-ring as your bird (thicker posteriorly). I do not think your bird's eye-ring has the classic, pointed teardrop shape of WEFL.
The bill appears within the range of both species.
Your images are numbered 308 and 313. Are there additional images (309, 310, 311, and 312)?
Thanks,
Jim
James F. Holmes, MD, MPH
Professor and Executive Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Office (916) 734-1533
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> On Behalf Of Mason Currier via groups.io
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 10:39 AM
To: <ALbirds...>
Subject: [ALbirds] Possible Western Flycather
Hi all! I'm back with another photo I came across if photo review I wanted to share and get thoughts on. Last September I found this bird at Shell Mounds and hesitantly ID'd it as YBFL. I had seen a YBFL there a week before and figured it might still be around due to the LEFL that had spent a couple weeks at the park. I quickly got distracted on the ID when a ALFL flew in and chased it off the branch! I was unable to relocate the bird and forgot about it between the ALFL and then the Flamingos that showed up the next weekend. But in reviewing photos it feels very off to me. While obviously wacky rare, the the most similar species to Yellow-bellied would be Western Flycatcher. One was banded at the Bird Sanctuary a few days later!
First I see the overall even brighter, water coloring and the thick eye ring. If you think of the eyeing as a compass, the NW side is thickest like WEFL's. It has a more teardrop shape look clearly shown in one pic unlike YBFL's thinner ring. Also the bird shows the slight crest and a peaked head shape unlike YBFL's rounded head with maybe a slightly longer bill. You can only see part of the wing but it shows a distinct WEFL field mark that is all black on YBFL-the pale fringing on the primaries which is circled below.
Let me know y'alls thoughts. These are the only photos I have, both attached below.
Thanks,
Mason Currier
Mobile, AL
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