amber@scott.stat.washington.edu (Amber Tatnall) (08/31/90)
Last weekend at a park in Carnation, Washington I saw some flycatchers. Isn't that great! It was fun watching their aerial acrobatics. Now for the questions. Remember, we're talking about flycatchers. Of course there will be questions! What I think I saw: A large flycatcher, about the same size as the Cedar Waxwing that was there too. Bill, orange and black, thick. I really think it was an Olive-sided Flycatcher because it had dark flanks with white (to yellowish) from neck to toes --all the way down the breast, that is. But it was so difficult to identify. I'm not really sure if that is what I saw. Did not see any white tufts behind/between the wings on the back. On the branch briefly with this bird was another bird which I would have identified as one of the Empidonax flycatchers. It was smaller, by what looked to be almost three inches. Much lighter colored above, all dark bill (?) The problem is, the person I was with was saying that the first bird was one of the Empidonax flycatchers (Willow). ARGH! I KNOW I saw a Western Wood Pewee in the bushes. This was a positive ID. So, basically I've gotten myself all confused, comparing these birds to one another, trying to get an idea of what I really saw and what it all meant. Any comments?