Northeast Phoenix, Arizona (1 Viewer)

[uk2usa]

Hello all,

I am hoping someone can help me ID this fellow.
This was taken December 20th at the Granite Reef Recreation Area of the Salt River.

Here is a description of the habitat:
"Mesquite Bosque forest, willows, and tamarisk surround this recreation area riverside, and the river itself is very wide and is almost lake like in most ways, especially at the very west end where Granite Reef Dam is located. Desert habitat surrounds the riparian and mesquite habitats."
Taken from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/granite-reef-recreation-area.htm

Thanks

Back and front images

 

[Nutcracker]

Empidonax sp.

I'll leave it to others to try and identify (or, realistically, guess!) which.

 

[Tiraya]

Well it is quite greyish looking, that might help eliminate some possibilities ie willow and Cordilleran. It isn't grey flycatcher for a few reasons.

I think it is between dusky and Hammond's, I remember the distinguishing features but forget which applies to which species...It is quite round-headed and i don't remember whether this PP is distinctively dusky or Hammond's.

TL;DR help please.

 

[uk2usa]

Thank you for narrowing this down for me. I was leaning towards Gray Flycatcher, because of the habitat. My guide states for Gray then the lower mandible should be pinkish... This is where my slight color blindness causes problems!

Alex

 

[Larry Sweetland]

It isn't grey flycatcher for a few reasons.

.

can you explain why Silverwolf?, I'd have gone for Grey on a hunch, but then I'm very inexperienced with empids.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Not a Hammond's. Those are more greenish. I'd go with gray.

 

[Nutcracker]

It isn't grey flycatcher for a few reasons.

Because there's no such thing . . . there is of course a Gray Flycatcher . . . :king:

 

[ovenbird43]

Gray Flycatcher is a good fit based on habitat and bill length (longish)

 

[Tiraya]

No you guys are right it is a grey (gray). Oops. *insert excuses*

Someone remind me not to comment on flycatchers again, I don't look at the pictures for long enough.

 

[uk2usa]

Thank you all for your help with this. It is much appreciated.
Alex

 

[BruceH]

Alex .... Here is a late November blog entry from a knowledgeable birder in the Phoenix area.

Scoll down a little to see his photos of the Gray Flycatcher. Looks like your bird to me. His were taken a few miles up river from your location. He discusses in the paragraph above the two photos how it can be difficult to Id but to look for the downward pumping of the tail.

http://desertwing.blogspot.com/2014/11/from-desert-to-lake.html