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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jim M." data-source="post: 1442958" data-attributes="member: 60675">Passerines breed in the summer, so juvenile birds are typically seen in summer or fall.  This could not be a juvenile bird at this time of year AFAIK.If you did not see any tail-dipping, that is a strong indicator against Gray.Here's what Pete Dunne says about identifying Gray Flycatcher in his "Essential Field Guide Companion": "In a field distinguished by hair-splitting sameness, this empid is refreshingly easy to identify.  Really.  Overall large and long (the largest empid...) with a round head, a distinctly long straight bill, and a long tail.  Other Empid's are described as "large"... but this one is the reference standard.  Trust your eyes.  It's an Empid that reminds you of a phoebe, and if structural similarities were not enough, Gray Flycatcher even gives its tail a phoebelike wag."I'm attaching some photos I took of a Gray Flycatcher near Mesa, Arizona in late December.  Notice the much longer bill than the pixie-like bird you photographed.  (Though unfortunately the only good profile shots I got were somewhat blurry!).  Young Gray Flycatchers can show shorter bills in late summer/early fall, but of course that is not a concern here.Best,Jim</blockquote>