Posted by Joe Morlan (64.171.188.119) on October 06, 2001 at 11:17:32:
In Reply to: August Mystery posted by Gary Potter on October 05, 2001 at 13:30:58:
I think the shape of the bill is being misinterpreted on the right photo on Mark Eaton's page. The head is bent down and we are looking down on it seeing the raised ridge on the nostril which eliminates the Tyrannidae entirely. The colors on the bird (better on Mark Eaton's site) are about the way Mark remembers the bird. It is not in shadow.
Also I think the tail shows a rounded formula, with the outermost tail feathers longer. That is also good for Phainopepla.
I don't think we can accurately judge the size of the bird in this photo and even if we could, I'd prefer to go with unambiguous characters instead of those based on judgment.
While I appreciate that it seems to have the "jizz" of a Gray Flycatcher, there are many problems with this identification, and several points made by Andy Kratter which I think eliminate that possibility entirely.
Beyond these minutae, the bird does not have any known PLUMAGE features of gray flycatcher while the coloration is fine for a worn or molting Phainopepla.
On to the jaeger!