California, Kingbird (1 Viewer)

[rylirk]

A last one from my quest to purge dodgy records from my list.

Playa del Rey, CA, July 2018. I have it down as Cassin's Kingbird, but I believe other similar kingbirds would also be expected here and impractical to differentiate based on this photo?

 

[Larry Sweetland]

A last one from my quest to purge dodgy records from my list.

Playa del Rey, CA, July 2018. I have it down as Cassin's Kingbird, but I believe other similar kingbirds would also be expected here and impractical to differentiate based on this photo?

Why not Western? 🤷

 

[rylirk]

Why not Western? 🤷

Would you say its IDable as a Western? Or best to keep as a sp. ?

 

[THE_FERN]

Seems to have a white throat (so not Cassin's)

 

[Butty]

Seems to have a white throat

I'm afraid I can't understand that assessment.
In this photo (underexposed by maybe 1⅓ stops - no offence), the throat appears a similar mid/darkish-grey to the crown - though, given the underexposure, I wouldn't trust that to represent reality - but the throat presumably isn't white because there is a hint of a contrasting narrow horizontal whitish mark immediately below the lore and eye and adjacent to the dark-looking throat. This pattern is consistent with Cassin's kingbird and not with western kingbird. In my opinion. But photo-quality is, in my opinion, way too low (again, no offence) to permit safe ID.

 

[THE_FERN]

I'm afraid I can't understand that assessment.
In this photo (underexposed by maybe 1⅓ stops - no offence), the throat appears a similar mid/darkish-grey to the crown - though, given the underexposure, I wouldn't trust that to represent reality - but the throat presumably isn't white because there is a hint of a contrasting narrow horizontal whitish mark immediately below the lore and eye and adjacent to the dark-looking throat. This pattern is consistent with Couch's kingbird and not with western kingbird. In my opinion. But photo-quality is, in my opinion, way too low (again, no offence) to permit safe ID.

We're seeing different things or interpreting the same information differently. I see evidence of a white [ish] throat.

Distribution of Couch's is primarily East/Mexico and this is California. It could be that but the OP was asking about Cassin's. I can see why, but the apparently strongly contrasting white malar is misleading imo; the dark surrounding it isn't dark enough. We're looking for a pale throated bird. Having seen many Cassin's I'm fairly confident it's not that. As to whether it's tropical, western, Couch's etc, pass.

 

[Butty]

My apologies. Typed Couch's, meant Cassin's. Since corrected.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Not seeing the white moustache of Cassin's. My guess is Western.

 

[njlarsen]

Not seeing any hint of white tip to tail. That would be in favor of Western but could also be found in a worn Cassin's?
Niels

 

[Butty]

Rarely have so many read the same photo so differently... 🤷🏻

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Rarely have so many read the same photo so differently... 🤷🏻

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with that statement 😆

 

[Brad Hacker]

As noted, this is a poorly exposed photograph not showing the front of the bird, which makes ID difficult. After reprocessing the picture, my impression is that the dark-edged(?) wing coverts, gray(?) mantle, and less-contrasting malar are most compatible with Western; the absence of white in the tail would have to be attributed to wear, but of course the same could be true of the wing coverts. Better than 50/50 it's a Western, but I wouldnt be too certain.