9 replies to this topic

[Aveschapines]

Hi everyone! I spent the day at the nature preserve in Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala, birding in between downpours. I saw a flycatcher I can't identify. I know it might be impossible but I have fairly decent photos and would love help giving him a name!

It was fairly large for a flycatcher - sparrow-sized (I saw it from just a couple of meters away so I'm fairly sure about the size), brownish upperparts, darker blackish head and crown, slight crest appearance from raised head feathers, white/cream underparts from throat to vent area. Seemed too brown to be any of the pewees, no yellow rules out local Kingbirds and Elainia (plus their crest is remarkable - saw one of them today).

Seen today in an interior humid forest (nature preserve with artificial irrigation during the dry season), Panajachel, 1500 mts above sea level.

Thanks!

Helen

[Kryptos18]

If Empidonax identification is bad, tropical Myiarchus is worse! This could be one heck of a tough ID.

[Aveschapines]

If Empidonax identification is bad, tropical Myiarchus is worse! This could be one heck of a tough ID.

OH NO :-(

Only 4 Myiarchus in range - Dusky-capped, Ash-throated, Great Crested and Brown Crested. But underparts were all white/cream - doesn't that rule out Ash-throated, Great Crested and Brown Crested? I'll study all my field guides when I get home!

Thanks for your help! I have a few that I'm not 100% sure of that would be lifers, unfortunately :-( but at least I had some reasonably good photos of this one!

EDIT I see Dusky-capped is supposed to have a pale yellow belly. Maybe I just didn't notice the yellow???

[Liam]

EDIT I see Dusky-capped is supposed to have a pale yellow belly. Maybe I just didn't notice the yellow???

I noticed the bird is wet. Maybe the rain washed out the yellow.

[Aveschapines]

I noticed the bird is wet. Maybe the rain washed out the yellow.

Oh, yes, EVERYBODY was wet here yesterday; it I took this photo during a downpour. I was under a roof, but Don Flycatcher wasn't! So that must be what happened.

[Kryptos18]

With the demarcation between face and throat, and the bill size, I've ruled out Great Crested and Dusky-capped. But between the other two, I don't know how to ID it from this angle.

[Aveschapines]

With the demarcation between face and throat, and the bill size, I've ruled out Great Crested and Dusky-capped. But between the other two, I don't know how to ID it from this angle.

Thank you Kryptos! The guide I have with me uses the undertail to distinguish, but he didn't show that to me :-( I'll study my other guides when I get home later today but it may not be possible. I appreciate your help!

[Aveschapines]

With the demarcation between face and throat, and the bill size, I've ruled out Great Crested and Dusky-capped. But between the other two, I don't know how to ID it from this angle.

Thanks again Kryptos. A Guatemalan birder friend identified it as a Brown Crested (on Facebook). Appreciate the help!

[Kryptos18]

Glad you figured it out! Like I said, I find tropical Myiarchus ID impossible! lol

[Aveschapines]

Glad you figured it out! Like I said, I find tropical Myiarchus ID impossible! lol

Me too LOL! Makes me (a little) jealous of people who only have one. Makes ID easy!