Birding Big Bend, Texas in Summer (Part 2): Flycatchers and Kin

 

In the empire of desert, water is the king and shadow is the queen.―Mehmet Murat ildan

Say's Phoebe, Basin, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Say’s Phoebe, Basin, Big Bend National Park, Texas. On many occasions while photographing in the desert, inquisitive Say’s Phoebes have come to investigate what I was doing. Several almost landed on me. Canon EOS 7DII/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.

Tyrant Flycatchers and kin (Family Tyrannidae) are among the most charming of birds with their curiosity and sallying hunting style. On our recent visit to Big Bend National Park, we found flycatchers everywhere, in all habitats. Small flocks of Say’s Phoebes were especially prominent around the buildings and parking areas of the Chisos Mountains Lodge and the undeveloped areas nearby. The lodge, being at an elevation of about 5400 feet, is near the upper altitude limit for these birds.

Olive-sided Flycatcher, Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Although flycatcher species are often extremely hard to tell part, some have features that allow them to be readily distinguished from the others. Some birders, for example, say Olive-sided Flycatchers seem to be be wearing a “vest.” Canon EOS 7DII/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). High-speed synchronized fill-flash.

At the low altitude abandoned ranches we saw a greater diversity of flycatchers than at altitude. Many individual birds were extremely difficult to identify–even if perched in plain sight! Forget about those lurking in the shadows! Ash-throated Flycatchers, though, were likely the most abundant and seemed to be just about everywhere at low elevation. We spotted the unmistakable Vermilion Flycatcher at several such localities including the Rio Grande Valley Campgrounds and Daniels Ranch–so it wasn’t always an ID guessing game!

Male Vermilion Flycatcher, Rio Grande Village, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Male Vermilion Flycatcher at Dawn, Rio Grande Village, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Most birds migrate, and Vermilion Flycatchers are no exception. However, in North America many of these flycatchers winter along the Gulf Coast and breed to the west of their winter range in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, rather than to the north. Canon EOS 7DII/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural Light.

Of all the identification puzzlements afflicting birding, the Empidonax flycatchers take the cake. Widely regarded as “nearly indistinguishable” visually, birders must rely on song (aided by distribution) to confidently identify some of these species. But what if the birds are not singing? Well . . . I guess one must learn to live with uncertainty.

The bird below, for example, would seem to be a Willow Flycatcher. Given the ranges of Willow Flycatcher subspecies, that would likely make this bird a member of the Southwestern race, Empidonax triallii extimus, a federally-listed endangered subspecies. I invite comment from readers who wish to confirm or deny my tentative identification, though.

Western Wood-Pewee, Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Willow Flycatcher(?), Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Canon EOS 7DII/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.

©2015 Christopher R. Cunningham. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.