Chicago Flycatcher ID

[Matthew]

Was visiting Chicago in May and not much experience with Eastern flycatchers. Any suggestions?

[Jerry Friedman]

I'd call that a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

[TooFly]

I don’t think it’s a Ruby...look at those primaries... I think Flycatcher. What about a least?

[Charlie Spencer]

I also don't think it's a Kinglet.  The tail looks too short compared to the primaries, the breast appears to have streaks, and the eye ring looks to be broken horizontally instead of vertically.  Plus it just looks too brown and not gray enough.

[Jerry Friedman]

9 hours ago, TooFly said:

I don’t think it’s a Ruby...look at those primaries... I think Flycatcher. What about a least?

 

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I also don't think it's a Kinglet.  The tail looks too short compared to the primaries, the breast appears to have streaks, and the eye ring looks to be broken horizontally instead of vertically.  Plus it just looks too brown and not gray enough.

Maybe the two photos in the same position, suggesting it wasn't constantly moving, should also have clued me in.  Thank you both.

[Sean C]

I'd guess Least Flycatcher

[Charlie Spencer]

33 minutes ago, Jerry Friedman said:

 

Maybe the two photos in the same position, suggesting it wasn't constantly moving, should also have clued me in.  Thank you both.

Hey, you nailed the one in the other discussion!

[Jerry Friedman]

11 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Hey, you nailed the one in the other discussion!

?

 

[The Bird Nuts]

Definitely a flycatcher, but to me the primary projection seems too long for a Least and something about the shape and coloration doesn't look right either.  I'm not sure what the other options are, though.

Edited November 5, 2018 by The Bird Nuts

[akiley]

This is no doubt an empid. Least type. Dusky is the other option to look at here.

[akiley]

Oh, this was in May? That likely rules out Western Empids. Probably just an odd Least.

[blackburnian]

I like Least here as well. 

[tedsandyman]

I'm not highly familiar with eastern flycatchers, but it does have a greenish back and small bill, which Least have, but the primary projections do look a bit longer than normal. I know Acadian Flycatchers have quite long primary projections but the bill probably isn't long enough.

As far as western flycatchers, I would say the one it looks most like to me is a Hammond's, as they typically have a fairly long primary projection (I've noticed the primary projection is about 1/3 the length of the tail starting from the secondaries... sounds much more confusing than it actually is), and a small bill and short-looking tail. In my experience Dusky (and Gray Flycatcher) are grayer on the back and have much shorter primary projections. The Pacific-slope / Cordilleran (and Yellow-bellied) Flycatchers can be eliminated since there doesn't seem to be any yellow on the throat, and, if I remember right, the grayish individuals are usually seen in Fall.

Edited November 13, 2018 by tedsandyman