[obol] Alder Flycatchers in Oregon

[Jeff Gilligan]

Hello Wayne and OBOL:

I didn't write that I believed that there were dialectical differences
between Willow Flycatchers in the  Pacific Northwest.  I noted that some of
the variations of Willow Flycatcher's songs are not described in most (all?)
of the standard field guides.  I questioned whether that might be due to the
Northwest birds having a greater repertoire of songs than those in the east
which would be more familiar to authors such as David Sibley.  I added that
I didn't know.  I also didn't say that there were "intermediate" song
patterns between Alder and Willow Flycatchers.

I have heard many Alder Flycatchers in the past, and as recently as last
summer in Alaska.  

That several Alder Flycatchers have been reported this spring by various
observers who have listened to recordings of Alder Flycatchers, and found
the singing birds to be very  similar to those recordings, certainly is an
indication that at least one song type of Willow Flycatchers is similar to
that of Alder Flycatchers when  not examined by sonograph..  (I am not
ruling out that one or more of the recent reports actually is of an Alder
Flycatcher.)


Jeff Gilligan


On 6/1/07 8:56 AM, "Wayne C. Weber" <contopus at telus.net> wrote:

> Oregon Birders,
> 
> 
> I can hear no significant differences in song patterns between
> Willow Flycatchers in coastal BC, eastern Oregon (where I've heard lots
> of them), and southern Ontario. I can assure observers that,
> contrary to remarks made by Mike Patterson and Jeff Gilligan, there
> are no noticeable regional dialects of Willow Flycatchers in the
> Pacific Northwest, and no "intermediate" song patterns between
> Alders and Willows.
>
 
> 
> Wayne C. Weber, Ph.D.
> Delta, BC
> contopus at telus.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>