Identifying empid flycatchers...

All things winged.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

A friend shared this handy chart with me. I find it very helpful. Maybe you will too... :lol:

Image
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

Wow, this forum is DEAD! 18 views and nobody thought that was funny? I give up...
User avatar
nightdriver
Posts: 427
Joined: August 24th, 2010, 9:34 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by nightdriver »

I don't get it....



Just kidding...wish I'd created it.. :lol: :lol:

It's missing Pine.... ;)

nightdriver
User avatar
Porter
Posts: 2418
Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Porter »

I don't see what cartoon tadpoles have to with this... :|
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

:lol:
User avatar
nightdriver
Posts: 427
Joined: August 24th, 2010, 9:34 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by nightdriver »

Those aren't stingrays?
User avatar
intermedius
Posts: 481
Joined: March 22nd, 2012, 7:19 pm

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by intermedius »

Empids, the Desmognathus of the birding world.

- Justin
User avatar
cbernz
Posts: 547
Joined: March 16th, 2011, 12:28 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by cbernz »

I know they're all the same color, but when I look at this graphic and my eyes scan from head to head, they appear to be slightly different shades of brown. Anyone else notice this optical illusion?
User avatar
cbernz
Posts: 547
Joined: March 16th, 2011, 12:28 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by cbernz »

intermedius wrote:Empids, the Desmognathus of the birding world.

- Justin
Except salamanders don't have distinctive call notes.
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

It's all the fault of DNA...and the fact that some empids lisp when they call, and people erroneously thought those speech impeded birds were a different species...
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by chrish »

Those pictures are misleading. How am I supposed to estimate primary extensions from those drawings?

I actually like empids, and I live in an area where they almost never call (during migration).

And if you are really having trouble, buy an older field guide. Western and Traill's Flycatchers are easier to ID that Alder, Willow, Cordilleran and Pacific Slope Flycatchers!

But the big bonus is that they are the easiest birds to photograph.

Traill's Flycatcher

Image

Acadian Flycatcher -

Image

Dusky Flycatcher -

Image

Hammond's Flycatcher -

Image

Least Flycatcher -

Image

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher -

Image


Besides, if you do label your empid photos, it isn't like anyone can prove you are wrong!

But if you get too good at ID'ing these, you can move on to Prions or the European Warblers. :lol:
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

What is a Trail's flycatcher? My book doesn't list it. Is it south of the border? If so, I don't need to worry about that one... :lol:

Oh, nice pics by the way...
User avatar
monklet
Posts: 2648
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:44 pm
Location: Ventura, CA
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by monklet »

It was the name of the Acadian/Willow Flycatcher group before they split. Birds in field can only be reliably separated by call.

As for empid identification in general, I suspect they are often misidentified, even sometimes by the most skillful birders when no vocalization is given.
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

Thanks!
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by chrish »

monklet wrote:As for empid identification in general, I suspect they are often misidentified, even sometimes by the most skillful birders when no vocalization is given.
Agreed. There are some empids, particularly south of the border, that are easy to ID but I doubt anyone who says they can correctly ID non-calling empids....and many that think they can ID some calling empids!
User avatar
Hans Breuer (twoton)
Posts: 3230
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Very nice :-)
User avatar
Jeff
Posts: 620
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 6:01 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Jeff »

Sweet mother of mercy, Brian, it's true, you've turned twitcher. You weren't lying. Next time I see you, it'll be a tweed jacket and a fake British accent.

"Snakes crawl forth twixt briar and trail
For mad herpetologist thy search doth fail"

Jeff
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Brian Hubbs »

This is what the DNA bullshit with herps does to people...they go after a new hobby... :lol:
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by chrish »

Jeff wrote:Sweet mother of mercy, Brian, it's true, you've turned twitcher. You weren't lying. Next time I see you, it'll be a tweed jacket and a fake British accent.
Real birders don't wear tweed. They wear loose fitting kakhi pants, long sleeve kakhi shirts over a bird-themed T-shirt, a khaki photographer's vest and a kakhi floppy wide-brimmed hat.

Actually, we herpers could learn something from them. Having done it both ways, I can assure you that after 12 hours in the field in the tropics you are much more comfortable dressed like a birder than a herper (flip flops, shorts, t-shirt) or a hiker (shorts, hiking boots, long sleeves).
User avatar
Hans Breuer (twoton)
Posts: 3230
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Real birders don't wear tweed. They wear loose fitting kakhi pants, long sleeve kakhi shirts over a bird-themed T-shirt, a khaki photographer's vest and a kakhi floppy wide-brimmed hat.
Khaki, in the forest?? I spend a fortune on cammo clothes, and I wish they made Ghillie suits my size :-(
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by chrish »

Khaki won't get you in trouble like Camo can.
User avatar
Hans Breuer (twoton)
Posts: 3230
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Like, in heavily contested border areas?
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by chrish »

Hans Breuer (twoton) wrote:Like, in heavily contested border areas?
Yes, or places with military "issues" like oppressive military regimes and general distrust of the government or places with potential instability from putative insurgent factions.

Indonesia used to be this way back in the early 80s. Military looking gear wasn't a way to make friends in some areas.
User avatar
Curtis Hart
Posts: 595
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 5:07 pm
Location: Hillsdale County, Michigan

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Curtis Hart »

Camo is completely banned where I volunteer on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. They are afraid of someone taking the island.
User avatar
Hans Breuer (twoton)
Posts: 3230
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
Contact:

Re: Identifying empid flycatchers...

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Thanks for the warnings, guys!
Post Reply