#66-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Least Flycatcher

HOW MANY: 2 or more

REPORTER: Terry Gray
890 Stefany Lane
Moscow ID 83844
208-882-1585

REPORTER EMAIL: clgtlg@moscow.com

OTHER OBSERVERS: Jerry Cebula
Mark Holmgren
Diane Pettit

DATE REPORT PREPARED: July 13, 2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: June 28, 2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: In Diane and Steve Pettit's yard. Cherry Lane area on north side of the Clearwater River east of Lewiston, Idaho.

HABITAT: Rural yard with mixed trees, lawn and grassland. Clearwater River just across the road from property.

CONDITIONS: We observed the birds for at least an hour.Warm early spring day with no clouds and light wind. Birds were flying through the many trees on the property .

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: none

DESCRIPTION: Tyrant Flycatcher. These birds were small Empidonax species which had 2 wing bars bold complete eye-ring and a grayish olive nape and back. Birds also appeared to have short wings and a short bi-colored bill.

BEHAVIOR: These birds were constantly fling from tree to tree. It was determined that least 2 birds were there and at least 2 were constantly singing their emphatic CHEbik. There call was non stop for the hour we were there.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? The emphatic CHEbik was an immediate giveaway to call this species.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Eliminated the other species of flycatchers solely due to the constant call or song of these birds.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): Observed them earlier in the month on another field trip and studied them often at Phillips farm last year when there was a pair there for the summer near Moscow, Idaho

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been an active birder for the past 7 to 8 years and lead at least 1 to 2 field trips per month for Palouse Audubon Society and or Canyon Birders.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None