I would have no problem calling this bird a Gray Flycatcher. It has the
characteristic dropping of the tail and flicking it back up. The Dusky
Flycatcher does the opposite – it flicks the tail up, then drops it.
Here are some instructive videos –
Gray Flycatcher
http://macaulaylibrary.org/video/454604
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrZm_Z9sp5Q
Dusky Flycatcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PjwLijwy9M
The bird is extremely long-billed. My impression is that the bird isn’t
colorful enough to be a Dusky, which is the only other candidate. Since its
behavior also clearly fits Gray, that’s what we are left with, despite the fact
that it was silent.
Tom Crabtree, Bend
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Bob Archer
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 9:23 AM
To: James Billstine
Cc: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; umpquabirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Matthew Hunter; Russ Namitz
Subject: [obol] Re: Help with Gray vs. Dusky Flycatcher ID Please!
Hi:
My understanding and observations are that Gray's tail bob is a slight raise
then a slower dropping of tail. Not a flick. My gut says the bolder wing bars
and eye ring, the bill does not seem to have sharp dark tip but a gradual
darkening, and with a long but not long enough bill is pointing to a Dusky,
which do like to flick their tails, not a bob. But without a noise, empids are
just empids in many cases.
Bob Archer
PDX
On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 9:41 AM, James Billstine <billstinj@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I was going through some old videos and pics last night and I came across a
video that piqued my interest. It was taken in early May at Thorn Prairie,
which is about 20 miles west of Diamond Lake and the Cascade Crest.
<http://youtu.be/X8deduaVcZQ> http://youtu.be/X8deduaVcZQ
<http://youtu.be/1f12qnmnv3o> http://youtu.be/1f12qnmnv3o
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130946385@N05/19303186331/in/dateposted-public/
What I know about this individual bird:
-It's flicking it's tail down, and there are a few deeper pumps, but not what I
would associate with what I THOUGHT was "diagnostic behavior" for a Gray
Flycatcher based on the description "tail reminiscent of phoebe."
-It has a long-ish tail and bill, but is it long enough for Gray?
-This bird was not calling while I observed it, but there were many other dusky
flycatchers around that were.
What I don't know about Gray Flycatchers and what others may learn from this:
-How much of a tail "flick" or "bob" or "pump" or "wag" is diagnostic for a
Gray Flycatcher vs. what other empidonax flycatchers do.
-Should I have named this post: 50 Shades of Gray Flycatcher?
So many questions,
Jimmy
--
James Billstine
http://birdsandbrawn.blogspot.com/
