On Sept. 20, 2016, I visited Bear Creek Park in Houston, TX. I am fairly
certain that I saw a Greater Pewee (one has been reported at this park
Sept-April from 2011-2016, but it has not yet been reported this fall,
which is when it normally returns). Although I have tried, I struggle to
identify flycatchers to my satisfaction and would like to ask about field
marks and whether my logic is sound for identifying the flycatcher in
question as a Greater Pewee.
Flycatcher's description from my field notes:
Saw a larger flycatcher/pewee with a large bill (largest I have ever seen
on a flycatcher, both width and length) - bill appeared all orange from
below with a black tip. No wing bars or distinguishing marks on back or
tail, just a slightly mottled brown. Lighter throat and front (mainly saw
this from the side), but it was backlit when I tried to observe the front
and I never completely saw its chest. Gave a few "tsp" calls. Was not on a
conspicuous perch either time I saw it. Instead it was in and among
branches on live trees and sitting still until it flew for a insect or flew
away. Did not flick its tail at all. Not as large as a Great Crested
Flycatcher.
I have been looking at the Sibley Guide, Cornell's All About Birds website,
and Audubon's website to try to gain more understanding about the
differences between an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Greater Pewee.
The following are my deductions for identification:
1. There were two other flycatchers within sight at the same time. Both
were smaller than the flycatcher in question and both had 2 distinct wing
bars. The smaller flycatchers that can be in the area and have orange lower
mandibles are Acadian, Willow, Alder, Yellow-bellied, and Least. All of
these are similar in size to each other (except the Least being smaller)
and have wing bars so I have eliminated these as a possibility for the
flycatcher in question (since it was larger and had no wing bars). This
leaves Olive-sided Flycatcher or Greater Pewee as the two remaining
possibilities for the area that can be larger and have orange on the lower
mandible.
2. The flycatcher had an all orange lower mandible with just a hint of
black at the tip. While no source points out bill color as a distinguishing
field mark between the Olive-sided Flycatcher and Greater Pewee, all of the
pictures on Cornell's and Audubon's sites show an Olive-sided Flycatcher
with an almost entirely black bill while the Greater Pewee's pictures show
a substantially more orange bill.
Based on the size differences between the flycatchers I saw and pictures I
have seen, I am leaning towards a Greater Pewee. I am concerned about the
low number of pictures available for comparison between Olive-sided
Flycatchers and Greater Pewees that I know are correctly identified (hence
only using Cornell's and Audubon's site, please let me know if there are
additional reliable picture sources). Without a larger sample size to look
at, is the amount of orange on the bill a reliable field mark for telling
Olive-sided Flycatchers and Greater Pewees apart?
Another field mark question:
One picture on Cornell's All About Birds show a very similar "vest" on the
Greater Pewee as the Olive-sided Flycatcher (like the picture from San
Pedro Preserve in AZ). Is this even a reliable field mark?
eBird lists Olive-sided Flycatcher as a possibility for this site, but
Cornell's range map does not show east TX within its range, even during
migration. It is not even listed as rare for the site. I am surprised at
the amount of variation between range maps for this species among the
different sources.
Am I missing anything that could lead to a different conclusion?
Thanks in advance for any insight! This would be a lifer, but I would like
to be more informed before I count it.
Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
{o,o}
/)_)
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