Re: [MDOsprey] Late Empidonax (Yellow-bellied?)
Miliff@aol.com
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:03:43 EDT
MDOsprey,
It may not be easy to relocate an Empidonax in migration (?), but for anyone
with the time and inclination, this would be a very good bird to relocate and
try to photograph/tape record. Paul's description of the eye ring as being
like a Western Flycatcher's grabbed my immediate attention. That eye ring
shape is pretty distinctive and not something I have seen on other Empidonax,
though I understand there are records of a few other species having
irregularly-shaped eye rings. Paul's description further places it in the
Yellow-bellied/Acadian/Wetern complex by underparts color (did you see the
back color Paul?).
Of course, my interest had already been aroused by the late date.
As most of you are probably aware unseasonable birds are often a red flag to
the possibility of a rarity. The Brown-chested Martin was identified when
folks were interested in documenting (and double-checking) Cape May's latest
Purple Martin (as the story was relayed to me, at least). There are a
zillion other examples where late birds have turned out to be other than the
expected species. The previous late date (shown in Yellow Book) for
Yellow-bellied Fly is October 26, so October 25 is definitely pushing it.
For the record, I'm not sure where that record is from -- the authors may not
have been as stringent as they should have been with the Empidonax graphs
:-). It may be that the latest verifiable date for Yellow-bellied is closer
to October 5 or October 10, and that some liberties wee taken with the graph.
This would make Paul's bird even more interesting [Bob, can you shed some
light on what records we used there?].
Western (Pacific-Slope) Flycatcher has occurred in the East so far only in
December - twice in PA and once in VA. Louisiana however has records
(specimens, both species in nearly equal proportions) from September,
October, and December, with at least a few October records.
It may or may not add some optimism to the search idea, but it seems like the
last front brought some unusually late and/or rare birds to parts of the
midwest and the Maritimes. If we optimistically assume this bird arrived
then, then perhaps it has been around Black Hills for some time...
If anyone looks for it and finds it, I encourage you to take photos and
extensive notes (including relative spacing of primaries if possible). Even
if it turns out to be "just" an Acadian or Yellow-bellied, it would be
fantastic to thoroughly document an extreme Empidonax date. We still do not
know the limits of Empidonax migration well, and what we think we "know", is
compounded by never being certain about reports unless they are thoroughly
documented (which is especially difficult with these active, but secretive
birds that tend to hang out in light too low for photography). Of course, a
good RECORDING of the call would probably be necessary to identify the
species (and even then might be difficult to ascertain).
Always best to go in with the attitude of enjoying an afternoon/morning of
birding at Black Hills rather than "chasing a Western Flycatcher". The
latter is more prone to disappointment when the bird moves on...
Just some hopeful rambling. Wish I was in the state now -- since I'd be at
Black Hills rather than behind my computer :-).
Best,
Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com
PS - After I composed this I saw Michael's email expressing the same
sentiments...
> Subj: [MDOsprey] Late Empidonax (Yellow-bellied?)
> Date: 10/25/99 1:06:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
> From: ZUCKEPA1@central.SSD.JHUAPL.edu (Zucker, Paul A.)
> Sender: owner-mdosprey@ARI.Net
> Reply-to: mdosprey@ARI.Net
> To: mdosprey@ARI.Net (MD Osprey)
> CC: voice@capaccess.org (voice)
>
> While hiking yesterday (10/24) in Black Hills Regional Park (Montgomery
> county), I briefly observed an Empidonax flycatcher. It was perched on a
> low branch of a small tree growing in a weedy field. It was a couple of
feet
> above the tops of the weeds, and about 20 feet from me. (The Osprey Heights
> trail is a mowed path with woods on one side and a large weedy field on the
> other. The weeds/grasses were about three feet in height.) The bird flew
a
> few times after bugs, returning to the same perch. Then it dropped down
and
> grabbed a bug in the weeds and settled on a perch in a nearby tree. Soon
it
> disappeared from sight. I estimate that I observed it on and off for less
> than a minute.
>
> While I am inclined to call it a Yellow-bellied flycatcher, I have some
> lingering doubts since late fall Acadians often have a yellowish wash on
the
> breast. I invite the experts with experience with such birds to look at my
> description below and let me know if the Acadian can be ruled out.
>
> Eye-ring: Large white area behind the eye coming to a point (like the
books
> show for the "Western" Flycatcher complex). This feature was very
prominent
> and immediately grabbed my attention.
>
> Bill: Lower mandible had color somewhere between flesh and orange. It did
> not look yellow. I looked at the bill but was not able to study it
> carefully.
>
> Front: The entire front had a dull yellow wash. There was a lot of
grayish
> streaking/mottling up and down on the sides. I did not get a careful look
> at the throat, but my impression is that it was similar in color to the
> breast.
>
> Back: Two large wing-bars stood out. They were slightly yellowish in
> color. (I would not call them buffy, but a light buffy and a light yellow
> are hard to distinguish.)
>
> Shape/Posture/Behavior: My subjective impression was that this bird was
not
> an Acadian, but my experience with Acadians is based mostly on Spring
> migrants and breeding adults.
>
> Your help and comments are appreciated.
>
> Paul Zucker
> Potomac, MD
>
******************************************************************************
*******************Marshall J. Iliff
Currently on Mobil Green Canyon 18A
110 mi south of Morgan City, LA
Migration Over the Gulf Project www.transgulf.org
miliff@aol.com
www.transgulf.orgmiliff@aol.com*************************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
*******************Marshall J. Iliff
Currently on Mobil Green Canyon 18A
110 mi south of Morgan City, LA
Migration Over the Gulf Project www.transgulf.org
miliff@aol.com
www.transgulf.orgmiliff@aol.com*************************************************************************************************