Flycatcher & Bunting, today, San Blas, Mexico (1 Viewer)

[Muppit17]

I attach three photos;
2 of the same Empid. This one was silent and all the birds that have called have been Pacific slope.
Immature male Bunting
Thoughts/comments would be most welcome

Many thanks

 

[DMW]

Can you recall the habitat the Flycatcher was in? If it was in a wetland area, I guess White-throated is a contender. Possibly Blue-black Grassquit for the other.

 

[Muppit17]

Can you recall the habitat the Flycatcher was in? If it was in a wetland area, I guess White-throated is a contender. Possibly Blue-black Grassquit for the other.

Dry and scrubby, Saw a W-t later but got this one down as Western, but could be wrong.

To me too big for Grassquit, it was noticeably bigger than seedeaters in the same area.

 

[njlarsen]

If you look at Ebird, which buntings are possible at the relevant time of year?
Niels

 

[Muppit17]

If you look at Ebird, which buntings are possible at the relevant time of year?
Niels

Nearly all,

Painted, Varied, Indigo, Blue & Lazuli

I can discount Painted, as tail is green, Lazuli as blue is wrong.

I suspect Indigo, but hence the question

 

[Butty]

1. I also suspect indigo bunting (wing-bars + pale throat), but it would be nice to be able to exclude blue grosbeak. Have you got any more photos, especially showing head/bill from the side? (Not blue-black grassquit: wing-bars, plain chest, bill-shape.)

 

[njlarsen]

Indigo bunting for me
Niels

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

1. I also suspect indigo bunting (wing-bars + pale throat), but it would be nice to be able to exclude blue grosbeak. Have you got any more photos, especially showing head/bill from the side? (Not blue-black grassquit: wing-bars, plain chest, bill-shape.)

Color is totally wrong for Blue Grosbeak. Beyond that, I can't choose between Indigo or Blue.

 

[Muppit17]

I agree, all wrong for Blue Grosbeak. Saw a flock less than 5 mins before and this was intermediate in size and the wing pattern and head shape v different.

I don't know Blue bunting so don't really know what to look for in a maturing male

 

[Butty]

Blue Grosbeak. Saw a flock less than 5 mins before and . . . head shape v different

Have you got any more photos, especially showing head/bill from the side?

Color is totally wrong for Blue Grosbeak

Could you say how exactly?

 

[Muppit17]

Could you say how exactly?

This had a rounded head. The BG have a peak to the rear of the head. The wing pattern is v diff, and they are bigger.

Close to in size & head shape to Painted Bunting, another species in the same area

 

[Butty]

I can't choose between Indigo or Blue

Blue bunting has no pale throat, no wing-bars, and the whole wing is plain (no obvious blackish) and concolorous with scapulars and back?

This had a rounded head. The BG have a peak to the rear of the head . . . and they are bigger.

Rear of head not visible here, and size can't be judged in this photo.

Have you got any more photos, especially showing head/bill from the side?

wing pattern is v diff

Could you say how exactly?

 

[KC Foggin]

Indigo bunting for me
Niels

I agree on Indigo.

 

[connorco]

Dry and scrubby, Saw a W-t later but got this one down as Western, but could be wrong.

To me too big for Grassquit, it was noticeably bigger than seedeaters in the same area.

The flycatcher definitely isn't a Western, hard to say what it is though.

 

[Chris Benesh]

Hi All,

I think that DMW had it right on the "bunting" early on. It is a funky angle and a tightly cropped image, which I suspect are helping to trip up minds. A few things stand out to me on this bird. First, the primary projection is REALLY short. Not the wing of a longer distance migrant. Also, the wings, tail, and emerging feathering on the rump appear black without bluish tones. These add up to Blue-black Grassquit for me, and I think rule out any other candidates.

I think Least Flycatcher is the best fit for the Empid based on appearance and location.

Chris

 

[njlarsen]

Hi All,

I think that DMW had it right on the "bunting" early on. It is a funky angle and a tightly cropped image, which I suspect are helping to trip up minds. A few things stand out to me on this bird. First, the primary projection is REALLY short. Not the wing of a longer distance migrant. Also, the wings, tail, and emerging feathering on the rump appear black without bluish tones. These add up to Blue-black Grassquit for me, and I think rule out any other candidates.

I think Least Flycatcher is the best fit for the Empid based on appearance and location.

Chris

My problem with the grassquit was the lack of streaking on underside?
Niels

 

[Butty]

Not blue-black grassquit: wing-bars, plain chest, bill-shape.

Not clear how there's any getting round those points.

 

[Chris Benesh]

Hi All,

I think that DMW had it right on the "bunting" early on. It is a funky angle and a tightly cropped image, which I suspect are helping to trip up minds. A few things stand out to me on this bird. First, the primary projection is REALLY short. Not the wing of a longer distance migrant. Also, the wings, tail, and emerging feathering on the rump appear black without bluish tones. These add up to Blue-black Grassquit for me, and I think rule out any other candidates.

I think Least Flycatcher is the best fit for the Empid based on appearance and location.

Chris

Another big problem I have with my earlier answer is the structure of the mandible. Looking more closely, it is not the mandible of a grassquit. So 🤷🏼‍♂️