Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)

This bird was first found by Josh Rose, Bill Lupardus, and Glenn Simon and identified as an Empidonax flycatcher on 28 Dec 2003. Two days later, Derb Carter relocated it and identified it as a Gray Flycatcher, in part due to its behavior of persistent tail-dropping. It was seen almost daily (missed on 5 and 6 Jan) since its discovery for a week or so, although it is frequently absent for hours at a time from its only known location (a weedy patch in a cattle field) where it hunts from perches less than 2m above the ground. Note the overall grayish color perhaps with an olive wash to lower belly; uniform and moderately thin eyering; relatively long bill with pinkish-orange base to lower mandible; white wingbars and tertial edgings; and fairly long tail with a faintly whitish outer edge. It was accepted by the NC Bird Records Committee as the first NC record for Gray Flycatcher. These photos were digiscoped using a Nikon CoolPix 4500 hand-held to a KOWA TSN-824 spotting scope. The pics were taken ca. 4:30pm under natural lighting from a nearly setting sun. Chatham Co., NC; 7 Jan 2004

Back to Jeff's Bird Page | Back to Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... January 7, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com