For flycatcher week, today's post is of a different group of flycatchers, one of the Empidonax group, which are small and somewhat drab birds. This used to be called Western Fycatcher, but the species was "split" into 2 species, the Pacific-slope and the Cordilleran, the former more western along the coast and inland into western Nevada and Arizona. The field marks of this bird is the wingbars, a large white eye ring that extends behind the back of the eye, and the lover mandible a pinkish-orange. He is smaller than many of the flycatchers we have posted this week, at only 5-1/2 inches in length. 10/11/19 Judith Sparhawk
More flycatchers! This shows two views of a Thick-billed Kingbird. This species has a limited range in the US, mostly in the very southeast corner of Arizona. Many of their markings are similar to other flycatchers, but note the very thick bill for which they are named. A pair of these birds nested in the Portal, Arizona area for several years. I visited there two different years about the time the young birds fledged, but while they were still hanging out and begging for food from their very busy parents. It was pretty noisy in that neighborhood for awhile! These birds fly out from a perch and catch insects in flight in mid-air. With these very thick bills, they can nab some pretty big bugs to eat. 10/10/19 Judith Sparhawk
For the continuing flycatcher week, this Gray Kingbird is the one and only one I have ever seen, from way back in 2012 during a Florida birding trip. He was photographed on one of the Keys, where they are supposedly fairly common. They also occur in mangroves on the Florida mainland coast. This one was spotted in a residential neighborhood, while I was looking at a map, trying to find my way to a botanical garden--pure luck for a life bird, no less! He may not be as fancy as some of the other flycatchers, being mostly gray, with a black mask; he also has a red crown patch, but it is seldom visible. 10/9/19 Judith Sparhawk
