Comments on: 7/11 Mystery Bird #2

By: Rafa

Rafa — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:08:51 +0000

John Wiessinger from Roger Tory Peterson Institute at http://www.enaturalist.org forwarded the following comments from John Rappole”

“Most likely, any Myiarchus at Welder now is Brown-crested. Ash-throated have been seen there, but are not common.
Great Crested are there only during migration, so far as is known. Although the three species differ somewhat in appearance, it is not safe to identify them from a photo – unless you have a clear view of the underside of the tail! Best way to identify them in the field is by voice.”

Thanks a lot to you both for your great help!

By: Rafa

Rafa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:33:22 +0000

Again I’ve got another answer from John Wiessinger at http://www.enaturalist.org Thanks John and the enaturalist staff fot your help , interest and your prompt reply!:

“Just dawned on me how you obtained the photos. I did learn about the work you’re doing with cameras focused on a feeding station that allows participants to take photos at home on their computer when they see something interesting. Great idea!

I haven’t been to Welder (one of our staff members has) myself but knowing the habitat there may helpful in figuring this out . I still believe it is either the Ash-throated (M. cinerascens) or Brown-crested (M. tyrannulus) Flycatcher that you have in your photos. According to Sibley, the Ash-throated is more commonly found in open, arid habitat while the Brown-crested is more partial to riparian (habitat along a stream or river) woods. Hope this helps with your sleuthing”

Good luck.

John Wiessinger — July 19, 2008

By: Rafa

Rafa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:00:13 +0000

People from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute at http://www.enaturalist.org/ have been so kind to send this info in a few minutes after my question:

I would agree with you that your bird is in the genus Myiarchus but the photos are not clear enough to make a definite determination of which one. The two birds that are in question here, as I see it, are the Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers. The Brown-crested has a heavier bill and feet than the Ash-throated but in your photos, I’m not able to see clearly enough to tell.

If someone in your group hear d it singing that can be helpful. The Ash-throated has a series of repeated phrases or a musical kaBRIK. The Brown-crested has low, alternating phrases that sound like prEErrr-prdrdrrr, wrrp-didider. Sibley’s book “Guide to Birds” discusses all of this and is your best bet in trying to figure this out. Someone who works at the Welder center may also have a good idea what you saw. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

John Wiessinger — July 19, 2008

By: Rafa

Rafa — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:24:45 +0000

You can see some videos of the Ash-throated Flycatcher in the next link. Color pattern Sibley described is not so obvious (he says “usually”) I think Ash-throated coud be too a good guess.
http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=5108

By: tinkerbird

tinkerbird — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:19:34 +0000

Hi there I am from Ireland and new to ‘Texas Birding Online’. I have no experince of birding from this part of the world and just have Sibley to go on.
Pictures 3 and 4 give good views of the birds undertail. Sibley suggests (that at least in adult Ash-throated flycatcher) that the dark colour extending down the undertail sides of Ash-throated extends across the tip of the undertail. This feature is not apparent on either of these excellent shots, leading me to think that it might be either Brown crested or Great crested. I am looking forward to learning something new!