[obol] Beach bird mystery

[Mike Patterson]

I think an important piece of this mystery that is deceptive
from the "blowing up" of the image.  This is a SMALL bird.  
The wing length excludes all flycatchers except Empidonax.
The length of the entire bird is less than 15cm (less than
6 inches).

So, this is either one of the big-billed Empidonax (Western,
Yellow-bellied, Acadian or Traill's) or a strange Eurasian
stray....

Yes, someone should try to salvage this bird.

david tracy wrote:
> 
> Interesting specimen.  I agree with Shawneen that the underparts and
> crown would probably not have looked so black on a living bird.
> 
> The lower mandible looks yellowish, and the description at:  http://
> home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/smith_flyc.html
> suggests the upper wing was plain olive-brown without wing bars.  Has
> anyone thought about it being a _Contopus_ type flycatcher?
> 
> Dave
> 
> david tracy
> davect at bendnet.com
> Bend, OR
> 

-- 
Mike Patterson               
Astoria, OR                    
celata at pacifier.com  
 
Lies, damned lies and White-throated Sparrows
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