Date: 4/4/26 4:35 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Least = Alder Flycatcher? Sep 2018
A number of photos of a "Least" Flycatcher in Sorrento Valley on 26 Sep 2018 found on iNaturalist and in eBird have been TENTATIVELY re-identified as an Alder Flycatcher by several empid experts (e.g., Andy Birch, Cin-Ty Lee, Mohammed Karam). This determination has been based somewhat on bill structure but especially on the pattern of emargination and spacing of the primaries--viewable with much enlarging of the photos. This is the bird present 25-26 Sep 2018 at El Camino Cemetery and seen and identified by quite a few observers, and eBirded, as a Least Flycatcher. (Not me, I was out of state.)
The couple iNaturalist photos in question are at:Â https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16947756Â and but then the MANY in eBird from 26 Sep 2018 make for a more thorough source to check. I must admit that some of the eBird photos look better for Alder, but that some do look somewhat like a Least. While everyone talks in general about the Alder vs. Willow Flycatcher ID issue, it is actually Alder vs. Least which can be equally problematic.
Did any of the many observers out there who saw and photo'd this bird have any notes (or better yet, a recording) of the call-notes it was rarely giving--other than simply noting that it gave a "sharp" call??
I'll post a follow-up at some point with further results of these ongoing discussions!
If the bird ends up being an acceptable Alder, then it would constitute the first county record. (And anyone with this bird being their only "Least" Flycatcher in the county......)
But we will see....
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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