Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-56
| Common name: |
Least Flycatcher |
| Scientific name: | Empidonax minimus |
| Date: | 06-18-2013 |
| Time: | 11am |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Ouray National Wildlife Refuge |
| County: | Uintah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 5 meters |
| Optical equipment: | 10X50 Bushnell binoculars, Cannon SX20 Digital Camera |
| Weather: | Sunny,clear, warm 80F |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Description: Size of bird: | Small passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | erect,long tailed passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brownish olive back,pale throat,olive belly,orange in the lower mandible |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | short,narrow |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I first heard an unfamiliar call, but then recognised it as matching the calls
of a Least Flycatcher I had heard described,so I pulled out my Tablet with iBird
Pro on it and played Least Flycatcher calls,and it was a perfect match. I then
went into the cottonwood grove and played the call,and the bird came in and I
got great looks. Small olive flycatcher with a white throat and short bill (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
Constant "chip-ik" call heard (video of audible call) |
| Behavior: | Actively flycatching and calling in the lower canopy |
| Habitat: | Dense Cottonwood grove along the Green River |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
No other Empidonax makes the same or similar calls,so the ID was straight forward |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes,saw an apparent Least Flycatcher at Lytle Ranch in May of this year,and at Welcome Wash along the Beaver-dam slope in May of last year. Both of those sightings, the bird was not calling so I made my ID on visual characteristic,which are not absolutely reliable with Empidonaxs so I did not submit a record to the committee out of personal doubt. No doubt this time |
| References consulted: | iBird Pro,Sibley Guide to Birds 200 D.A. Sibley |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105,SLC,UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None,although I mentioned my sighting to the Refuge staff,and they told me they were aware of them and had been getting it on their surveys. |
| Date prepared: | 6-23-13 |
| Additional material: | video |
| Additional_Comments: | I will submit photos to the webmaster,but also see video of audible call at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanto/9104031229/ |