Ash-throated Flycatcher

This afternoon, I was driving around to test out a new camera.  Basically, I'd park next to treelines, play a screech owl tape, and photograph the birds that came in to the tape.  One of the birds that responded near beautiful Leroy, Louisiana was an Ash-throated Flycatcher.   

 

Ash-throated Flycatchers are interesting birds.  Their breeding range is out west, from about the Texas Hill Country west to the Pacific Coast, north to Washington state, and south through much of Mexico.  In fall, most migrate south into Mexico and Central America, but a few--for whatever reason--wander in different directions.  There are fall and winter records of this species all along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, and from scattered points throughout the interior of the eastern half of the continent.

It's important to be careful identifying this species, as a number of other flycatcher look very similar to Ash-throateds.  The Great-crested Flycatcher nests throughout the east in summer  (http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/pages/55.htm) but is unknown in winter in Louisiana, while the western Brown-crested Flycatcher is found in very small numbers in Louisiana in winter.  One good clue for identifying Ash-throateds is the overall paleness of the browns, grays, and yellows of their plumage; many birds of the arid areas of the west have pale, dusty coloration.  However, color can sometimes be hard to judge.  The best proof of the identity of this species is its tail.  The outer tail feathers of this and closely related species are reddish brown with darker brown outer webs.  On Ash-throateds, the dark brown makes a dark hook shape on the tip of the tail.  This is obvious on the picture above, taken today.  Click on the picture for a closer look.