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June 29, 2010

Cordilleran Flycatcher

I'd been hearing this bird out back for the last few weeks. I could hear his very distinctive song, but could never spot the little bugger. Finally, I told Jennifer that I'd take her to get ice cream if she could find him. Before long, she'd pinned down the tree was in and presently, she pointed him out to me. He's a very small fellow, and deathly shy. He has a favorite tree out back that he hides in, bouncing around like a ping pong ball in a dryer. I snapped a few grainy shots of the fellow and then began scouring my books and the internet to identify the mysterious summer visitor.

Eventually, with the aid of whatbird.com, I was able to pin down the taxonomy. He's a Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis). Funny how I'd never really noticed him before. He's a very pretty bird. Hopefully I'll get some decent shots of the recluse one of these days. You can listen to his song here.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 29, 2010 at 12:30 AM

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