Willow Flycatcher, Boulder CO? (1 Viewer)

I was at Walden Ponds Wildlife Refuge, outside Boulder, CO a couple of days ago and got a few shots of this little flycatcher flying off of, and then back to, the top of a dead tree. It made excursions of, perhaps 5-10' at a time, and came back to the same branch. At a guess, he/she was about 5"-6". The best fit seems to be a Willow Flycatcher.

The bird list for the refuge includes Western and Eastern wood-pewee, Willow, Olive-sided, Ash-throated Flycatchers (and Say's Phoebe, Western and Eastern Kingbirds). All the other options have much smaller beaks relative to their frames. Least flycatcher also seems like a possibility, since it migrates through the area.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Your description of behavior (sallying and returning to the same perch) and the appearance of the bird points toward Eastern/Western Wood-Pewee. I would not even venture to guess which of the two without hearing it call.

Carlos

csanchez7 said:

Your description of behavior (sallying and returning to the same perch) and the appearance of the bird points toward Eastern/Western Wood-Pewee. I would not even venture to guess which of the two without hearing it call.

Carlos

Click to expand...

Agree

I'm afraid the bird wasn't being very vocal... However, the Ponds aren't far away, and I can go back any time and see if it's still in the same area. Thanks for the help.