Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-56
| Common name: |
Least Flycatcher |
| Scientific name: | Empidonax minimus |
| Date: | June 16, 2013 |
| Time: | 10:20 a.m. |
| Length of time observed: | A few seconds at a time over three visits |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Riverdale Civic Center, Riverdale |
| County: | Weber |
| Latilong: | 41�10'46.42"N 111�59'34.53"W |
| Elevation: | 4359 |
| Distance to bird: | 35-50 ft |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binos |
| Weather: | Sunny, temps in the 80's |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny, but bird in shade of canopy |
| Description: Size of bird: | Small songbird--sparrow-sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Classic songbird |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Drab gray-green upperparts, pale gray and yellow underparts |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Aerial insect-gleaning |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Only identifiable as an Empidonax flycatcher due to canopy shade, distance, size
of bird and brief observations. Very small and underwhelming in appearance. Head Beak: Small entirely yellow lower mandible; couldn't see maxilla. Crown: gray-green. Side of face: gray. Eye: Black with wide-eyed appearance due to prominent eye-ring, but shape of eye-ring was not clear due to distance, angle, brevity of observation. Throat: Pale gray, slightly paler than side of face. Body Back, wings, tail an indeterminate shade of gray-green. Wings were darker than body and two wing-bars showed clearly. No white on tail. Upper breast same shade of pale gray as throat and seemed faintly streaked or rumpled; color gave way to pale yellow at mid-breast and through the belly. Didn't see undertail coverts or leg color. Proportions, posture: Rounded crown with brief observation of slight, but rounded peak at rear once. Bird perched with strong vertical aspect and sang with lower back and rump somewhat rounded as tail pointed vertically to ground. Appearance of short primary projection and medium (for a flycatcher) tail length. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Persistent "Che-BEK. Che-BEK. Che-BEK." Snapped out the call briskly with stronger emphasis on the BEK. Check audio recording |
| Behavior: | Calling persistently from dead branches looping under highest canopy of cottonwoods. Remained 25-45 feet above the ground. Changed perches frequently, leaving view. Once, flew to a Black-chinned Hummingbird's nest on a cottonwood branch about 45 feet up and had a fluttering conflict with the female hummer on the nest, then flew away. |
| Habitat: | Mature cottonwoods lining a river. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Not separable from other Empids visually due to
shade, distance, angle, and frequent bouts of singing out of sight, but
persistent, loud, snappy "Che-BEK." song distinctive and unlike other birds.
Check recordings. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Two LEFLs by ear in 2013 also along the Weber River; several in New England on a recent trip. Well-experienced with common Utah Empids. |
| References consulted: | Floyd, 2008, UBRC sight records 2012-24 and 25. |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kristin Purdy |
| Observer's address: | Ogden, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Mike Hearell, Taylor Abbott, Mark Thal |
| Date prepared: | June 16, 2013 |
| Additional material: | Audio Recording |
| Additional_Comments: |