a Willlow Flycatcher and a mystery solved

An unquestionable Willow Flycatcher appeared at the head of the marsh on this overcast, drizzly morning and it perched in the open just above eye level long enough to show itself off: a peaked crown, virtually no eye-ring, white throat, dirty olive breast, shortish primary projection, striking buffy wing bars, broad, straight-sided tail. Willow is the most common breeding empidonax out here but I have only one previous record (in late August 2011) that seemed to me to be unequivocally this species; most of the birds of this type that appear here are Alder Flycatchers passing through to or from the north. This bird, with its buffy wing bars, is a bird of the year and possibly even a local product.

Also seen: Black-and-white Warbler (first of the season), Northern Waterthrush and American Goldfinch (a handsome male singing away as though it were the height of spring). The local crows detected a big raptor of some sort but they were unable to identify it as to species and everytime I tried to get a look (from the ground under the canopy) it flew off with the mob of crows (or, more correctly Murder of Crows) in hot pursuit.

And now the answer to yesterday mystery call. On my suggestion, Peter Beston submitted the recording to Xeno-canto, an excellent web site for bird songs. After a bit of discussion on its Forum page, a match was found in the form of a recording of Wild Turkey hen! It might seem counter-intuitive that a female Turkey would advertise itself so loudly and persistently but I know of at least one other example from another species. The female Clapper Rail has a distinctive and persistent call that seems to advertise its availability. Once, while birding in the Shinnecock marshes, a male Clapper Rail called from cover. A short playback of that female call brought the male right out of hiding and dashing at top speed -- right towards us!

Eric Salzman