Posted by Phil Pickering (208.46.229.162) on August 22, 2001 at 12:25:46:
Appears to be a small-end flycatcher by shape, proportions, and posture. The uniform coloration and lack of obvious eye-ring and wing-bars suggests Pewee, but the primary projection seems too short to me, even accounting for wear, and the crown seems atypically rounded. The jizz strikes me as very empid-like, which leads me to suspect that this is a very worn/faded adult, and also that the prominent brownish tones I see on my monitor are largely an effect of the photo. Unfortunately it may be necessary for the most part to throw color out the window as any sort of clue here.
I don't think it's a Western Fly, as even very faded adults usually show at least the outline of the teardrop eye-ring shape in my experience, and again the crown seems fairly rounded. The short primary projection and fairly long tail seem wrong for Hammond's, and the body and tail also seem too long for Least. The unlikely possibilities of Acadian and Yellow-bellied can perhaps also be ruled out by the combination of long tail and body, rounded crown, and short primary projection, although I can't say that from experience. This leaves Willow/Alder, Gray, and Dusky.
Unfortunately the lighting is directly above and behind the bill, so the lower mandible is presumably completely shaded and the amount of pale at the bill base impossible to judge. This is supported by the fact that the shaded belly appears blackish like the lower mandible. Fortunately there is what at least appears to be a fairly good view of the bill shape from above in the additional tilted head photo. The bill appears to me to be fairly long, but proportionately somewhat narrow for an empid. This to me strongly suggests Gray or Dusky, and would seem to lead away from other empids including Willow. I suspect a Willow should show a wider base to the bill in this view. The bird also seems to me to have the long-tailed, lanky jizz of a Dusky or Gray.
Several things make me lean towards Gray. In my experience Grays seem to like "highest point" exposed perches like this, at least when on territory. Also, the downward angle of the tail perhaps suggests that the photo has captured the bird in the process of tail bobbing. I'd also say the bill appears a bit prominent, and a bit on the long end for a Dusky. Finally, perhaps the somewhat less prominent eye-ring and wing-bars of Gray would be more likely to fade to near invisibility than those of Dusky (although I suppose a very faded Dusky could look this plain). Empids are another group I don't get to study much, so I can't say I'm confident about anything - particularly Gray vs. Dusky when there are virtually no plumage clues to go on. Overall, though, I'd have to guess Gray Fly.
Cheers,
Phil