#32-B-06
Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form
Species: Least Flycatcher
Reporter: (include address, phone, e-mail)
Steve Bouffard
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
961 E. Minidoka Dam Rd
Rupert, ID 83350
(208) 436-3589
fax (208) 436-1570
steve_bouffard@fws.gov
Other Observers:
Colleen Moulton & IDFG IBIS Crew heard the song on 6/2/2006.
Zeke Watkins saw & heard the bird on 6/18/2006.
Date Report Prepared:
6/9/2006 (initial report)
8/8/2006 (final report)
Date Sighting Occurred: all dates were in 2006
May: 20, 21, 23,
June: 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 29
July: 5
Locality of Observation:
Minidoka NWR/Lake Walcott State Park (LWSP)
Latilong 26
Bird has been singing from tall cottonwood trees in the Lakeview tent Camping Area of LWSP
Habitat: Park like conditions; tall (100 ft±) cottonwoods with lawn and no shrubs understory.
Conditions: Heard numerous times, generally nice weather (sunny & low winds) when heard.
Did you take notes…
during the observation? ____________
after the observation? ____recorded presence in notebook__________
the same day? ____________________
another day?______________________
not at all? ________________________
Did you consult a field guide or other reference work?
during the observation?____________
later the same day? _______________
another day? _____________________
not at all? __I did not consult any references_______________
What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult? none
Description: It was a small and gray empidonax flycatcher. It had a short beak. I did not get a close enough look at it to note mandible color or primary extension. I did watch it sing – the cheebek song coincided with movement of the mandible.
Behavior: Singing from the upper canopy of tall cottonwoods & flycatching.
How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? I heard the song which is distinctive and species specific. I could hear the song from my office, so I know it was present during late May, June and early July.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? I eliminated other species, because no other bird in this country sounds like a Least Flycatcher. Other empidonax species were only present in May and early June during migration. Western Wood-pewees nested in great abundance in the park. They are much darker & have their own distinctive calls.
Experience with this species (and similar species): Least Flycatchers nested in my yard in Vermont where I grew up. I have seen and heard several at Camas NWR. This is the third one I have heard or seen at Minidoka NWR since 2000. This one has been here the longest
General birding experience: advanced birder
Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach)
none