Hi Daniel, Heard to say since you think "what-cheer" is similar to a Yellow-bellied. But given all the info. I would suggest you were looking at a Willow. Both the song (and call) are more similar than "what-cheer" than any other flycatcher, and a somewhat aberant sounding Willow would be more likely than any of the others. However, take a listen to a recording of the Yellow-bellied and if you still think it sounds like your bird I would certainly go with that. Kevin Breault Brentwood, TN ________________________________ From: Terry Witt <terrywitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: hyla514@xxxxxxxxx Cc: tn-bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, August 9, 2011 5:01:52 PM Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: Murfree Spring Wetland - odd [Yellow-bellied?] flycatcher Hi Daniel I have seen YB Flycatcher in Mboro a few times but not at Discovery Center yet. It is a rare to uncommon migrant around here, though part of that may be due to difficulty in identifying silent birds, and the fact that it is frequently rather difficult to see well. In addition, most singing birds are seen in spring, and are late migrants when there are fewer birders in the field. The habitat at Discovery Center does offer a fine place for one to show up, and sooner or later I expect to see one there. I have seen Willow, Least, and Olive-sided there in the past. In addition, there is an old record from Nashville for YB Flycatcher from August 8! What I don't like is the vocalization. YB Flycatcher gives a call not unlike a Least Flycatcher, a 2 note Chbek, not quite as abrupt. The song is reminiscent of the first past of E Wood Pewee. Neither of these match at all what you heard, I don't have a clue as to your birds identity. Perhaps someone else may offer an idea Cheers Terry Witt Murfreesboro Tn ________________________________ From: Daniel Estabrooks <hyla514@xxxxxxxxx> To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tue, August 9, 2011 11:29:23 AM Subject: [TN-Bird] Murfree Spring Wetland - odd [Yellow-bellied?] flycatcher 8/9/11 Murfree Spring Wetland Rutherford Co. With about an hour of free time at my disposal yesterday, I did a quick run-through of the wetland around the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro, on the off chance that I might run into something of interest. As it turns out, I did see an odd flycatcher that was giving a very loud call that sounded a little bit like the classic "what-cheer" call you'd hear from a cardinal. (The "ch" sound in the middle was not as pronounced as a cardinal though, if that makes any sense.) Anyway, I listened to the call for several minutes and ignored it, assuming that it was just a cardinal. In any case, I saw the bird for about a minute from the back before it flew away. It had strong wing bars and generally looked like a pewee, but the primary projection seemed too short for a pewee and I've never heard a pewee give a call like that. Upon consultation of a few field guides, I see that Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (a bird I have zero personal experience with) gives a similar call to what I heard. I'm just curious if anyone has seen yellow-bellies at the wetland before and/or if the timing is even right for a migrant yellow-belly to be here. I apologize for my ignorance. I'm a western birder who hasn't quite figured out all the eastern birds that people around here probably take for granted :-) Daniel Estabrooks