DISTRIBUTION, IDENTIFICATION

The Ash-throated Flycatcher in the East:

A western-southwesternspecies formerly regarded as an accidental visitor in the East now apparently of regular occurrence

William L. Murphy

N SUNDAYDECEMBER I9, I979,I catchingthem in flight, althoughinsects guishthe speciesof Myiarchus flycatch- studied an Ash-throated Fly- were flying. Although I did not have an ers found in America north of Mexico catcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) for opportunity to photograph the fly- from the Ash-throated Flycatcher. more than an hour in a brushy backyard catcher,it was seenagain two dayslater in Haymarket, Prince William County, by David Smith of Haymarket, who in- HISTORICAL SIGHTINGS Virginia. The flycatcher was initially dependently identified the as an perchedlow in a silver maple tree (Acer Ash-throated Flycatcher. Reports of HEASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER IS saccharinurn L.) 12 m from a kitchen the sighting with substantiating notes an insectivorousspecies of the fam- window through which I was watching. from both observerswere subsequently ily Tyrannidaethat inhabitsthe temper- The bird then flew to within 2 m of the sent to the editor of the Raven and to the ate desert and scrub communities and window and perched on a chain link area compiler for American . rangesinto the pine oak woodlandsof fence. My first impressionwas that the On Sunday, January 20, 1980, Ellen western North America. Its breeding bird resembled a Great Crested Fly- G' Fader of Arlington, Virginia, and I range extends from the southern tip of catcher (Myiarchus crinitus), the com- observed an Ash-throated Flycatcher the central plateau of Mexico (southern mon Myiarchus speciesin the East--a on Virginia Key, Dade County, Florida. San Luis Potosi and northern Guana- very late one--but the proportions of When first spotted, the bird was juato and Jalisco)north to Oregonand the bird appeareddifferent from those perched 2 m above the ground in a de- east to central Texas (Lanyon 1963) of the latter species. ciduous sapling. We were standing The 1957A.O. U. Check-listrecognizes The flycatcher was 15-18 cm in quietly in the shade 5 m away and were two races of the Ash-throated Fly- length, mostly brownish-gray, with two able to studythe bird for 2 minutes, after catcher. The nominate form, M. c whitishwingbars. Both mandibleswere which it flew into the tree under which cinerascens (Lawrence), breeds from entirely dark to the base and similar in we were standing, where it afforded us southwestern Oregon and eastern size. The eyes appeared black. The somegood, but mainly only silhouetted, Washington, southern Idaho, south- crown'was ruffled and slightlydarker views. The flycatcher seen on Virginia western Wyoming, Colorado, New than the rest of the unmarked head, Key was identical in every respect to Mexico, and northern and central Texas nape, and back. The chin, throat, and the flycatcher seen in Haymarket. Un- southto southernBaja California, Guer- breast appeared to be a creamy white like the Haymarket bird, however, rero, and southwesternTamaulipas and color that blended gradually into pale which appearedto be quite solitary, the winters from northern Baja California, lemon on the belly. Many secondarie..s Virginia Key bird seemedto be loosely southeastern California, central Ari- were edgedwith white; the outer four or associatedwith a roving interspecific zona, and southernTamaulipas southto five were rich rufous. The tail appeared group of Yellow-rumped Warblers Guatemala and E1 Salvador, casually to solid brown above and rufous below; (Dendroica coronata), Palm Warblers Costa Rica and rarely southwestern the rufous was especially apparent (D. palmarum), and other species.The California (A.O.U. 1957). All of this when the tail was fanned. Characteris- sighting was immediately reported to range is occupied by M. cinerascens tics that did not conform to those of the the Tropical Audubon Society. Our ef- cinerascens,except that M. c. pertinax were the forts to relocate the bird on Virginia (Baird) is resident in Baja California white chin, throat, and breast; the Key the followingweekend were unsucu south of latitude 29ø (Lanyon, 1963b) noticeably smaller, slimmer bill; the cessful.The sightingwas subsequently and on San Esteban Island, Sonora darker-brown tail; and the smaller size reported to the Florida regional com- (A.O.U., 1957). of the bird. piler for American Birds. Since 1911,when a specimenwas col- The flycatcher flew 8 times while As a result of these two sightings, I lected in Beltsville, Prince Georges underobservation and lande.dpreferen- became interested in determining the County, Maryland (Simon 1958), Ash- tially in small (less than 3 m tall) trees statusof the Ash-throatedFlycatcher in throated Flycatchers have been ob- within 70 m of the house. Its flight was the East. I report here an annotated list servedwith increasingfrequency east of low and direct. It habitually perched of sightings, seasonal and geographic the MississippiRiver, in a region that less than 2 m high and gleaned insects patterns of sightings, and characteris- lies outside of the breeding or previ- from the leafless branches rather than tics by which field observerscan distin- ously-known wintering range of either

Volume 36, Number 3 241 race. In fact, the Ash-throated Fly- Shoals, September 17 (F•nch 1972) Ontarto catcher has been reported •n the East through September 20 (Silcock 1975), Seen at Point Pelee, November 24, only 12times before 1970and more than 1971, by O.H. Hewitt (Finch 1972); 1962 (Stirrett, 1973; James et al. 1976) 20 times sincethen. All collected speci- seen at Bar Harbor, Hancock Co., mens have been of the nominate race. November 21, 1975, by W.C. Russell Quebec Known records of the Ash-throated (Finch 1976). Seen at Franquelin October 10, 1977 Flycatcher east of the MississippiRiver Maryland by J.M. Belisle (David and Gossehn (excludingLouisiana, which appearsto 1978).This sightingconstitutes the only mark the easternlimit of its regular win- Collected at Beltsville, Prince report from Canada east of Ontario tering range and which I will discuss Georges Co., November 25, 1911, by later) are as follows: E.B. Marshall, specimenwas identified Rhode Island years later by S. Amy and is now in the Collected on Block Island, Newport THE RECORDS U.S.N.M. bird collection (cited by Si- Co., September 15, 1960 by J. Bmrd, mon 1958; original report was not pub- Alabama specimen is now 261402 in the M C Z lished; collected at Monkton (immature Cambridge (Baird 1962); seen at Block Collected at Dauphin Island, Mobile male) November 26, 1957, initially seen Island September 25, 1976 by F P Co., November 2, 1958 (Williams 1959) November 22, specimen is now 465388 Frazier, Jr. (Finch 1977);photographed or November 3 (Silcock 1975), by L.E. in the U.S.N.M. collection (Simon at East Providence, ProvidenceCo, by Williams, Jr., specimenis now 4645.la 1958); seen at Emmitsburg, Frederick R. Bowen after initial discovery by H m the Florida St. Univ. Mus. collection Co., December 4, 1962 by J.W. Willoughby, present November 12 (Williams, 1959); seen at Bon Secour, Richards (Scott and Cutler 1963). through at least November 30, 1979 Baldwin Co., October: 24, 1964 by P.F. (fide D.L. Emerson, incorrectly re- Chandler (Imhof 1976); seen at Massachusetts ported in American Birds as seen at Dauphin Island October 7-8, 1965 by Photographed at Gloucester, Essex Acoaxet, Massachusetts (fide D L J L. Dom et al. (Ibid.); seen at Co., present from November 25 to De- Emerson). Dauphin Island May 3, 1968 by J.L. cember 3, 1972; initially discoveredby Dorn et al. (Ibid.); seen at Magnolia S. Harty and J. Twisdom at Eastern Virginia Springs, Baldwin Co., September 17, Point (Finch 1973); seen at Orleans, Seen at Little Creek, Virginia Beach- 1971 by P.F. Chandler (Ibid.); and seen Barnstable Co., November 22, 1975 Norfolk, December 26, 1957 by F C at Fort Morgan October 27, 1974 by (Finch 1976); seen at Rowley, Essex Richardsonand W.F. Rountrey (Potter T.A. Imhof et al. (Purrington 1975). Co., May 18-24, 1979 (Heil and Sty- 1958; Richardson 1958); seen at Ch•n- Florida meist 1980); seen at Cambridge, Mid- coteague N.W.R., Accomac Co, De- dlesex Co., December 1-9, 1979 (Vick- cember 13-14, 1969 by S. Step•noff Collected at Town Point on the south ery 1980); seen at Wellesley, Norfolk (Stepinoff 1970); photographed at s•deof PensacolaBay oppositethe city Co., during the week of November 10, Cheriton, Northampton Co., Decem- of Pensacola, Escambia Co., Decem- 1980 (fide D.L. Emerson). ber 27-30, 1978, Nat'l Photoduphcate ber 24, 1944, after being found earlier File No. 454-1C (Scott 1979); seen at by E.J. Koestner et al. (Weston 1946); New York Haymarket, Prince William Co, De- seen at Fair Point near Pensacola Octo- cember 9, 1979 by W.L. Murphy and ber 21, 1956by F.M. Weston within 0.4 Photographed at Larchmont, West- D. Smith; and photographedat K•p- km of the site of the first Florida rec- chester Co., present from November topeke, Northampton Co., December ord, specimenis now in the collection 22 to 24, 1970, initially discoveredby S. 30-31, 1979 by M. Tove, seen by many of L.E. Pate of Pensacola (Weston Bahrt, photograph on file with the observers (Armistead 1980). 1957); seen near Gulf Breeze, Santa A.M.N.H. (Boyajian 1971; Bull 1974); Rosa Co., October 20, 1975 (Purring- collected at Ridge, Suffolk Co., De- ton, 1976); seen on Virginia Key near cember 5, 1973, by W.E. Lanyon, adult PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION Mmmi Beach, Dade Co., January 20, female initially discovered by J. Rus- 1980 by W.L Murphy and E.G. Fader. cica and G. Raynor December 1, mist- Seasonal netted December 5, placed in an aviary Illinois but subsequently died; specimen is now 819464 in A.M.N.H. bird collec- HESEASONAL DISTRIBUTION of the Collected at Washington Park, Ash-throated Flycatcher in the East Springfield, Sangamon Co., (adult fe- tion (Bull 1974; Raynor and Ruscica is shown in Figure 1. Most records are male), November 9, 1973 after being 1974); seen at Riis Park, Brooklyn, from Septemberto December, w•th late •mtially seenon November 2, specimen May 10, 1978 by P.A. Bacinski, prob- November and early December ac- •s now 605794 in the Ill. St. Mus. col- ably an adult female (no response to countingfor peak numbersof observa- lection (Kleen 1974; Bohlen 1975). This audio playback) (Paxton et al. 1978). tions. Although observationdates range and the Ontario record constitute the North Carolina widely, periods of highestfrequency m only sightings of Ash-throated Fly- certain states(north to south)have been catchers away from Atlantic/Gulf Seen at Raleigh, Wake Co., May 15, as follows: states. 1973 by R. Silcock (Teulings 1973); and Three waves of movement are appar- seen at Pea Island N.W.R. Dare Co., ent. The first wave arrives in eastern Maine June 3, 1974 by P. A. Buckley (Teul- Canada and New England and m Ala- Seen at Appledore Island, Isles of ings 1974). bama from mid-September through

242 American Birds, May 1982 i2 -

hapsis disorientedalso) may find it- self in spring far removed from its 'area of established distribution' (Johnston,1961), and for many rea- sons (most notably lack of a mate) failsto establisha newbreeding popu- lation. In other words, suchan occur- rence may be regarded as an extreme case of the normal phenomenonof dispersal(Johnston, 1961)."

Similarly, Stymeist (Heil and Stymeist 1980) raised the question of whether a bird observedMay 18-24, 1979, in Mas- sachusetts could have been one of sev- eral reported during the previous fall and winter that might have overwin- tered in the Southeast. The only midwinter sighting of an Ash-throated Flycatcher east of the Mississippi River was by Murphy and Fader on Virginia Key, Florida (Jan- uary 20, 1980). Because that bird was apparently healthy, I speculate that it could have survived for the remainder of the winter in the Keys, feeding on the A S O N D J F M A M J J abundant insect life that is active there U E C O E A E A P A U L G P T V C N B R R Y N Y throughoutthe year. The generally low, brushy thickets of mangroves (Rhizo- MONTH phora spp.) in the Keys could harbor a Figure1. Seasonaldistribution of sightingsof the Ash-throatedFlycatcher east of the rather sizable population of Ash- Mississippi River, 1911 to mid-1980. throated Flycatchers, and the inaccessi- bility of a large part of this habitat would early October. The secondwave arrives land and a nearby region of Mas- make a thorough censusof the popula- in Alabama and Louisiana in late Octo- sachusetts, respectively) could very tion difficult, if not impossible. Thus I ber and in more northern regionsin late well have been of the same wandering hypothesizethat the Florida Keys might November and early December. The bird. Many western strays appear to be a possibleoverwintering area for the third wave, composed of spring va- wander eastward until they reach the Ash-throated Flycatcher in the East, as grants, appears from the Southeast to coast; then they head south. Thus, the they are for small populations of other New York from early May to early June flycatcherobserved December 9, 1979, western species, such as Western King- (Hubbard, pers. comm.). in Haymarket, Virginia could well have birds (Tyrannus verticalis) and Scissor- been the same bird that was photo- tailed Flycatchers (Muscivoraforficata Peak nos. No. of graphed 3 weeks later (December 30- [Tyrannusforficatus]). [In the text fol- State of reports reports 31, 1979)at Kiptopeke duringthe Cape lowing, changes in and Mass. Nov. 10-Dec. 9 4 CharlesCBC. Similarly, reports of ob- nomenclature due in the A.O.U. Check- N.Y. Nov. 21-Dec. 21 2 Md. Nov. 25-Dec. 4 3 servations made on December 13-14 list, 6th Edition, 1983, are in brackets.] Va. Dec. 9-Dec. 31 5 and 27-30, 1978, at Chincoteagueand Another possible wintering ground Ala. Oct. 7-Oct. 27 3 Cheriton, Virginia, respectively, may for "eastern" Ash-throated Flycatchers have been of the same bird. That these could be along the Gulf Coast. Winter locations are both situated on the same records of Ash-throated Flycatchers in Geographic narrow coastal peninsula may add coastal Louisiana are not uncommon. Twelve of the 26 states and 5 provi- strengthto the "samebird" hypothesis. Of particular interest are 4 records of dences east of the Mississippi River mid- and late winter birds: collected at have accountedfor all of the sightings WINTER SURVIVAL IN THE EAST the town of University, 5 miles south of of the Ash-throated Flycatcher in the Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Parish, East. Of these 10 states, all but 3, Il- T ISPOSSIBLE that the Ash-throated March 20, 1943 (Lowery 1974); col- linois, Ontario, and Quebec are coast- Flycatchers observed in the East in lected (female) at False River opposite al. Severalpublished observations may springhave overwintered somewherein New Roads, Point Coupe Parish, De- have been of the same bird, especially the Southeast.Silcock (1975) wrote, cember 23, 1945 (Ibid.); collected at in cases in which both sightingswere Johnson Bayou, Cameron Parish, Jan- made in the same area during a brief "That the Raleigh bird described uary 4, 1948 (cited in Simon 1958); and periodof time. For example,two sight- above [May 16, 1973] representsthe firstspring record for theeast presents collected at Willow Island, Cameron ings in New England (November 12-30 a problem. It may be that a fall dis- Parish, April 1, 1957(Ibid.). and December 1-9, 1979, in Rhode Is- perser which overwinters (and per- In his treatment of the species in

Volume 36, Number 3 243 Loms•ana, Lowery (1974) wrote, HYPOTHESES FOR ABNORMAL coast are lost and have faulty orientation MIGRATORY PATTERNS mechanisms,something alarming Is hap- "The speciesis rare but of fairly regu- pemng In populations of •nsect•vorous lar annual occurrence in winter in birds. The matter meritsinvestigation be- southern Louisiana, particularly in 2•THOUGHTHE RISE in popularity in causewho, for example,knows what ef- the New Orleans area and in the delta recent years of birding as a hobby fect persistentpesticides (which accumu- region south of that city. It has also and the current availability of excellent late in birds' brains) mighthave on their been seen on Grand Terre Island, at field guideshave no doubt improved the ability to orient properly?" False River, and on at least 5 occa- chances of western strays being cor- sions in Cameron Parish." Although to my knowledge no tests rectly identified when seen in the East, have been conducted to evaluate the thesefactors might not fully accountfor Purrington(1976) noted that most Loui- the current trend toward increased effects of pesticides on avian orienta- siana reports of winter Myiarchus tion, pesticide-induced disorientation numbers of sightingsof Ash-throated flycatchers are from Cameron Parish, should be particularly noticeable m Flycatchersin the East. Silcock (1975) which might be expected as it is the birds that breed in heavily-treated presented several hypothesesfor the westernmostof the coastal parishesand areas. Species of birds that breed m the strayingof western birds to the eastern thusis closestto the normal rangeof the Cotton Belt--an area extending from United States.He emphasizedtwo main species.Cameron Parishis also heavily North Carolina south to northern behavioral patterns, normal dispersion birded as it is one of the few coastal Florida and west to southeastern Cah- and abnormal migratory movement areas of western Louisiana that is easily fornia--might be particularly subjectto (disorientation), as factors which might accessible. pesticide-induced abnormalities be- causethis phenomenon.Silcock quoted Several reports of Ash-throated Fly- causeof the tremendouspesticide load Berndt and Sternberg (1968), who catchers found in the East mentioned applied annually to control insect pests stated, that the birds were observed feeding. on cotton. The Ash-throated Flycatcher Bohlen (1975) stated that a bird col- "An examination of recoveries of female breedsthroughout the major southwest- lected in Illinois had been actively Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) ern cotton-growing area; therefore, flycatchingin deciduouswoods and that shows that many first breed a con- analysesof tissuesof Ash-throatedFly- siderable distance from their birthplace, catchers collected in the East would "during cold periods the bird fed by in contrast to the situation of the Blue Tit pickinginsects off the foliage instead of (Parus caeruleus)and Nuthatch (Pusilia help to determine whether these va- flying." The Illinois bird endured a 3.3- [sic.] europaea).The degreeof suchdis- grants contain unusually high pesticide cm (1.3-in.) snowfall and a 6-day tem- persionin thesespecies, and presumably levels. peraturerange of 11.7ø to - 5øC. (53ø to thereforethe gene flow, is inversely cor- related with the number of geographical 23øF.). The gizzard contained several races they contain." BEHAVIOR specimens of insects (Hemiptera: Coreidae, probably Leptoglossusspp.). The Ash-throated Flycatcher that I ob- Silcock noted that M. c. cinerascens, HEHEIGHT AT WHICH most Ash- throated Flycatchers have been ob- servedin Virginia, like the Illinois bird, which is "migratorythroughout most, if served in the East is a matter that many also gleaned insects from twigs rather not all, of its range" (Lanyon 1961), observers have regarded as having than catching them in flight. Simon would tend to be a widely dispersing sufficient significanceto merit mention (1958) reported that, taxon. In supportof this hypothesis,all in their reports. With few exception, all specimenscollected in the East and easternsightings have been of birds that "Mr. Robert T. Mitchell of the Patu- identified to subspecies have indeed xent ResearchRefuge, Laurel, Mary- remained within a few feet of the been cinerascens(Weston 1946; Simon land, examined the droppings col- ground. The Ash-throated Flycatcher 1958; Newman 1959; Williams 1959; lected during the 24-hour period that that I observed in Virginia perched the [Maryland] bird was kept alive Baird 1962; Bohlen 1975). [November 25, 1957]. Of the 0.5cc within 2 m of the ground and flew low, Baird (1962), in a discussion of the the bird that I observed in Florida also analyzed, three grasshoppers com- Ash-throated Flycatcher that he col- prised85 per cent, skin of fruit 10 per perched within 2 m of the ground Si- lectedon Block Island on September15, cent and unidentified insect (?) frag- mon (1958) wrote that ". the 1960, surmised that the bird may have ments 5 per cent." flycatcher at Monkton [Maryland], fre- been carded there by hurricane Donna, quentedonly the lowest branchesof the Finch (1973) reported that a bird seen in whichpassed a few mileswest of Block trees scattered throughout and sur- early winter in Massachusettssubsisted Island on September 12. He also sug- rounding an open field. It was never on Pyracantha and yew (Taxus sp.) ber- gested as an equally probable alterna- observed higher than 6 feet." Stepmoff ries. In contrastto thesereports of Ash- tive explanationthat this individual, like (1970) reported that the Ash-throated throated Flycatchers successfullyfor- members of a number of species, flew Flycatcher seen at Chincoteague, Vir- agingin late fall and early winter, Bull north in the fall (Baird et al., 1959). ginia "... was on a low bush inches off (1974)reported that an examinationof a With reference to the straying of east- the ground. When flushed, it always specimenobtained in early Decemberin ern birds to the West, a situation that New York showed the stomach and in- flew low and strongly, but always mightentail many of the samefactors of testineto be empty, the muscle masses disorientation as the eastward move- landeda short distanceaway and al- ways in low vegetation." Bohlen's re- greatly reduced, and the plumageheav- ment of western birds, Silcock (1975) port (1975) mentioned that the bird seen ily infestedwith Mallophaga, which are quoted Able (1972), who stated, lice whosepopulations increase rapidly in Illinois fed from low (6 feet) to moder- on birds so weakened as to be unable to "If, as Guy McCaskie suggests,most of ately high (20 feet). Since no other re- groomthemselves properly. the eastern birds found on the Pacific port mentions an Ash-throated Fly-

244 American Birds, May 1982 Figure 2. Relative sizes of bodiesand bills of Wied's Crested (top) Figure 3. Relati• e hues of yellow on bellies of Wied's C•'ested(top) and Ash-throated (bottom) Flycatchers. and Ash-throated (bottom) Flycatchers. Also note relative widths of bills.

Figure4. Relativecontrast between breasts and belliesof Great Figure5. Compari.•ont•backt'olors•GreatCre.•tedctop)andAMt- Crested (top) and Ash-throated (bottom) FIw'at•'he•:•'. throated (bottom) Flycatchers.

Figure 6. Comparisonof bill color of Great Crested(top) and A.•h- Figure 7. Comparisonof the amottnt•ruj•tts in the recta'icesand of throated (bottom) Flycatchers). the relative body sizes of Olivaceous (top) and Ash- throated (hottotal Flycatchers.

Volume 36, Number 3 245 catcher as having been observed higher capped] Flycatcher (Mytarchus tuber- thtcker bdl "(Figure 2) and than 2 m above the ground, the behavior cuhfer) is said to differ from other shows" a somewhatbrtghter shade of the Illinois bird seems to have been members of the group in its habit of of yellow on the belly" [which, how- exceptional. A possible explanation for picking insectsfrom foliage while it hov- ever, can be affected by molt or wear] th•s behavior is that in cold or cool ers but that other Myiarchus species (Figure 3). However, Lanyon's (1960, months, it is warmer near the ground feed almost exclusively on flying in- 1961) statistics show considerable than at greater heights, and insects are sects. As mentioned earlier, most Ash- overlap in bill, wing, and tail mea- more active when warm than when throated Flycatchers seen in the East surements between M. cinerascens cold; also, many fruits grow low to the alsopick insectsfrom foliage; however, males and M. tyrannulus coopert fe- ground (Hubbard, pets. comm.). This most do so while perched. males. Moreover, the somewhat low perching height in conjunctionwith Phillips and Lanyon (1970) published brighter shade of yellow on the belly is the species' sedentary habits and cryp- a key to the identification ofM. crinitus, only a relative characteristic. There- Uc coloration may result in numbers of M. tyrannulus, and M. cinerascens, but fore, I suggestthat separation of this Ash-throated Flycatchers being over- the key relied mainly on the color pat- speciesfrom M. cinerascensbe accom- looked by field observers in the East. tern of the inner web of the rectrices for plished only by a combination of visual separation of M. tyrranulus from M. and morphological characteristics cinerascens. Such characteristics are of Dunn (1978) stated that the Wled's IDENTIFICATION great value to bird banders but are of Crested Flycatcher is "... somewhat only marginal use to field observers. secretive, preferring to remain in the NIDENTIFIEDMyiarchus flycatch- During the past year, I examined tops of the cottonwoods," in contrast ers reported in recent years in the most specimens of the Myiarchus to the low perches preferred by the East may actually have been Ash- flycatchers in the U.S. Nat'l Museum Ash-throated Flycatcher. throated Flycatchers, especially those collection. Every specimen of M. Great CrestedFlycatcher: Dunn (1979) in late autumn and early winter. Vickery cinerascenshas pale yellow on the belly statedthat the best field mark by which (1980) reported that two "suggestive and has mandiblesthat are dark brown, to separate this species from the Ash- Myiarchus sp." were reported in 1979in almostblack, to the base. Furthermore, throated Flycatcher is its "... mousy Maine, one in Hampden November 30- M. cinerascens was the only species gray breast that contrasts sharply with December i and one on Mt. Desert Is- with a very pale gray or even whitish a bright yellow belly" (Figure 4) The land December 8. He thought that the throat and breast. All other specieshad back is "... strongly washed with two birds might have been western graying throats and breasts, the color of olive-green in contrast to... the Ash- strays. Finch (1976), after reporting, which contrastedstrongly and abruptly throated, which exhibit[s] browntsh- sightingsof Great Crested Flycatchers with the lemon underparts. gray upperparts" (Figure 5). Moreover, in late autumn in New England, advised A useful treatise on the field the lower mandible of the Great field observers that, "Such late Myiar- identificationof North American Myiar- Crested Flycatcher is distinctly hght in chus flycatchers deserve scrutiny." chus flycatchers was written by Jon color, whereas that of the Ash-throated Moreover, Purrington (1976) wrote that Dunn and appearedas a two-part article Flycatcher is uniformly dark (Figure 6). the Wied's Crested [Brown-crested] in the Western Tanager. Dunn (1978, Olivaceous[Dusky-capped] Flycatcher: Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus) has 1979)presented an exhaustive compari- The best character by which to separate recently been seen in Louisiana much son of characteristicsuseful in separat- this [former] speciesfrom all other My- more frequently than its relative [the ing M. cinerascens, M. crinitus, M. iarchusflycatchers is "... the total lack Ash-throated Flycatcher]. tuberculifer, and M. tyrannulus in the of rufous on the rectrices, and only a Hesitation by field observersto iden- field. For the purpose of this paper I trace on the flight feathers..." (Figure tify out-of-seasonMyiarchus flycatch- have chosento selectivelydisregard the 7) (Dunn, 1979). ers seen in the East is understandable. valuable information he offers on Dunn (1978) described the Myiarchus separatingthe speciesfrom each other VOCAL genusas."... a very difficult group to and to concentrate only on how to dis- distinguish, demanding great caution tinguish M. cinerascens from the other HEDAWN SONGS ofall North Amen- and the careful consideration of a num- Myiarchus species. Because these can members of the genus Mytar- ber of visual and vocal characteristics species exhibit no appreciable sexual chus are species-specificand offer the before a definite identification should be dimorphism, the morphological de- easiest means of specific identification attempted."Peterson (1980) included an scriptionsapply to both males and fe- (Davis, 1962). However, such songsare illustration of the head, neck, and breast males. given only by males on territory dunng of an Ash-throated Flycatcher in his the breeding seasonand are of no use •n the identificationof vagrantsin the East revised Eastern Field Guide, but previ- VISUAL ous editions showed only the Great (Lanyon, pets. comm.). Call notes, Crested Flycatcher. The illustration of Wied's Crested [Brown-crested] Fly- however, can be relied upon as meansof the Ash-throated Flycatcher in Robbins catcher: The two racial groups of this specificidentification. et al. (1966) is correct in most respects species that extend into the United Wied's Crested [Brown-crested] Fly- but fails to show light areas on both States will be treated here as one form. catcher:The song of this speciescon- mandibles and lemon wash on the Dunn (1978) reported that this species sists of a long series of identical sen- underparts.The text accompanyingthe "... is substantially larger than the tences,each composed of two 3-syllable illustrations may confuse eastern ob- Ash-throated Flycatcher, and more im- phrases. "Will-for you" and "THREE serversbecause the Olivaceous [Dusky- portantly, has a much longer.... foryou" (Davis, 1962).The calls consist

246 AmericanBirds, May 1982 of isolated "hint" notes at regular inter- rectnx pattern photographed, or other- Ont Mus 34 ß JOHNSTON, R F 1961 vals and a call composedof 2 parts an wise verified Population movements of b•rds Condor introductory syllablederived from a sin- 63:386. ß KLEEN, V.M. 1974. Middlewest- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ern Prairie Region. Amer. Birds 28:58-63•ß gle "hut" note, followed quickly by a LANYON, W.E. 1960. The Middle Amen- phrase composedof 2 or 3 "huit" notes Y WARMESTPERSONAL THANKS can population of the Crested Flycatcher given in rapid succession (Lanyon, are extended to Richard C. Myiarchus tyrannulus. Condor 62:341-50. ß ß1961. Specific limits and distribution of 1978) Banks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Ash-throatedand Nutting Flycatchers. Con- Great CrestedFlycatcher: The song of John P. Hubbard, New Mexico Depart- dor 63:421. ß . 1963. Notes on a race of this species is composed of 2 parts, a ment of Game and Fish; Wesley E. the Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus low "wheeyer", a pause, then a high Lanyon, Department of Ornithology, cinerascens pertinax, of Baja Califorma Amer. Mus. Novit. 2129:1-6. ß . 1978 "wheeyer" over and over again (Davis, American Museum of Natural History; Revision of the Myiarchus flycatchers of 1962) The call is a harsh ascending Bernadette I. and Lawrence W. Mur- South America. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist "wheep" (Robbins et al., 1966). phy of Alamogordo, New Mexico; 161(4):429-627. ß LOWERY, G.H. 1974 Ohvaceous[Dusky-capped] Flycatcher: Donald Hß Messersmith, Professor of Louisiana Birds. Louisiana State University In this species the song consists of a Ornithology and Entomology, Univer- Press, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., Chicago long series of sentencesthat are com- 651 pp. ß NEWMAN, R.J. 1959. Central sity of Maryland; and Chandler S. Rob- SouthernRegion. Aud. FieldNotes 13:37-41 posedof either 2 or 3 differentphrases-- bins, Department of the Interior, for ß PAXTON, R.O., P.A. BUCKLEY, and "whtp, weeo, wee boo". The last phrase their critical reviews of the manuscript, D.A. CUTLER. 1978. Hudson-Delaware is quite different from the others (Davis, and to David Lß Emerson and F.R. Region. Amer. Birds 32:983-987.ß PE'TER- 1962) The call is a plaintive, gently Scott for supplying me with valuable SON, R.T. 1961. A Field Guide to Western Birds. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 309 pp slurredwhistle that varies in lengthfrom references. Special thanks are due to ß .1980. A Field Guide to the Birdsß 4th 0 4 to 1.0 second (Lanyon, 1978). Ellen GßFader for her constant support ed. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 384 pp. ß Ash-throatedFlycatcher: The song of and encouragement. PHILLIPS, A.R. and W.E. LANYON this species consists of a series of 2- 1970. Additional notes on the flycatchersof syllablephrases repeated rhythmically. LITERATURE CITED eastern North America. Bird-banding 41:190-197. ß POTTER, J.K. 1958. Middle The first syllableis a "wit"; the secondis ABLE, K.W. 1972. The changingseasons. Atlantic Coast Region. Aud. Field Notes a note inflectedup, then down (Davis, Arner. Birds 26:28. ß ARMISTEAD, H.T. 12:267-269. ß PURRINGTON, R.D. 1975 1962) The call consistsof short, sharp 1980. Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Arner. Central Southern Region. Amer. Birds 29:68- Birds 34:260-263. ß AMERICAN ORNI- notes(Robbins et al., 1966)or a "pwit" 74. ß --. 1976. Central Southern Region THOLOGISTS' UNION. 1957. Check- Amer. Birds 31:82-87. ß . 1977. Central (Peterson, 1961). list of North American birds. 5th ed. Southern Region. Amer. Birds 31:186-190. ß In view of the relative difficulty en- Baltimore ß BAIRD, J. 1962. Ash-throated RAYNOR, G.S. and J.J. RUSCICA. 1974 countered in identifying juvenile or flycatcher in Rhode Island. Auk 79:272. ß Ash-throated Flycatcher on Long Island, weathered individuals in the field, espe- ß A.M. BAGG, I.C.Tß NESBIT, and N.Y. Kingbird 24:61-2. ß RICHARDSON, C.S. ROBBINS. 1959.Operation recovery-- cially when they are silent, as are most F.C. 1958. Rare flycatchers in Virginia. Ra- report on mist-netting along the Atlantic ven 29:29-30. ß ROBBINS, C.S., B flycatchers in autumn in North Amer- Coast in 1958. Bird-banding 30:143-171. ß BRUUN, and H.S. ZIM. 1966. Birds of ica, it becomes apparent that ex- BERNDT, R. and H. STERNBERG. 1968. North America; a guide to field identifica- trahmital Myiarchus flycatchers should Terns, studies,and experimentson the prob- tion. GoldenPress, New York. WesternPub- be properly documented whenever pos- lems of bird dispersionßIbis 110:256. ß lishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin. 340 pp. ß BOHLEN, H.D. 1975. Ash-throated sible. The age and sex should be care- SCOTT,F.R. 1979.Middle Atlantic Coast flycatcher in Illinois: summary of records Region.Amer. Birds 33:270-272.ß . and fully determined and the colors of the east of the MississippiRiver. Auk 92:165- D.A. CUTLER. 1963. Middle Atlantic Coast mouth and other "soft parts" recorded. 166. ß BOYAJIAN, N.R. 1971ßHudson-St. Region. Aud. Field Notes 1:18-22. ß SIL- When collection is undesirable, the Lawrence Region.Amer. Birds 25:554-558.ß COCK, W.R. 1975. An ash-throated BULL, J. 1974. Birds of New York State. birds should at least be netted so that the flycatcherat Raleigh, N.C., with somenotes Doubleday, Natural History Press, Garden on the occurrence of this speciesin the east- morphologicalcharacteristics given in City. New York. 655 pp. ß DAVID, N. and ern United States. Chat 39:40-43. ß SIMON, Phdhpsand Lanyon (1970) can be evalu- M. GOSSELIN. 1978. Quebec Region. S.W.1958. An ash-throated flycatcher (My- ated, and the rectrix pattern shouldbe Amer. Birds 32:180-182.ß DAVIS, L.I. 1962. iarchus cinerascens cinerascens) in Mary- photographed. Songsof North AmericanMyiarchus. Tex. J. land. Auk 75:469. ß STEPINOFF, S. 1970 Sci. 13:327-44. ß DUNN, J. 1978. The Myiar- Ash-throated flycatcher at Chincoteague chus flycatchers. Western Tanager, Novem- Raven 41:34. ß STIRRETT, G.M. 1973. The SUMMARY ber 1978: 4-5ßß . 1979. The Myiarchus Winter Birds of Point Pelee National Park flycatchers. Western Tanager, December Indian and Northern Affairs, Parks 1978-January1979:5. ß FINCH, D.W. 1972. Canada:17. ß TEULINGS, R.P. 1973 HE ASH-THROATEDFLYCATCHER Northeastern Maritime Region. Amer. Birds (Myiarchus cinerascens), once con- Southern Atlantic Coast Region. Amer 26:31-37. ß .. 1973. Northeastern Birds 27:758-760. ß . 1974. Southern At- sidered to be an accidental visitor east Maritime Region. Amer. Birds 27:24-30. ß lanticCoast Region. Amer. Birds28:889-892 of the MississippiRiver, has become a ß 1976. Northeastern Maritime Regionß ß VICKERY, P.D. 1980. Northeastern regularfall and occasionalspring visitor Amer. Birds 30:29-36. ß --. 1977ß North- Maritime Region. Amer. Birds 34:139-141. ß In recent years. This species can be eastern Maritime Region. Amer. Birds WESTON, F.M. 1946. Additions to the 31:225-231. ß HEIL, R.S. and R.H. STY- Florida list. Auk 63:451-452. ß --. 1957 separatedin the field from other North MEIST. 1980.The springmigration, March- Notes from Northwestern Florida. Florida American species of Myiarchus fly- May 1980. Bird Observerof Eastern Mas- Naturalist 30:30-31. ß WILLIAMS, L.E., Jr catchersby a combinationof visual and sachusetts 8:149-170ßß IMHOF, T.A. 1976. 1959. Ash-throated flycatcher in Alabama vocal characteristics. However, ex- Alabama Birds. University of Alabama Auk 76:528. Press, University, Alabama. 445 pp. ß trahmltal individuals should be care- --14800 Fourth Street, JAMES, R.D., PßL. MCCLAREN, and J.C. fully observed and fully documented, BARLOWß 1976. Annotated Check-list of Apartment 95D, photographed,or at leastnetted and the the Birds of Ontario. Life Sci. Misc. Pub., R. Laurel, MD 20810.

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