Willow Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
Date: September 18, 2012 9:09 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E III (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 800, Aperture priority spot metered, 1/125th @ f/8
Raw, PS CS3 on a Mac. 42% of frame
No cloning, no noise reduction

When I lived in NJ I relied on vocalization of empid flycatchers to make my identifications, and that is still the safest way to tell them apart. But here in AZ I see them almost exclusively as silent migrants and I list them simply as “empid species.”

This bird is obviously a flycatcher from size, structure, and behavior. It is an empid from overall yellow-green color and two tone bill (dark above yellow-orange below) and the pair of wing-bars. Based further on the buffy-yellow color of the wing-bars and the very minimal eye-ring I believe this is a Willow Flycatcher. But I’ll certainly listen to reasoned analysis why it might be something else. (There are two ventral views of this bird on my blog.)

If possible please view the large version before commenting. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.