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Hammond's Flycatcher (?)
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Hammond's Flycatcher (?)

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: AvianPosted May 16, 20162,191 views4 comments
Canon 1D-X, 500mm f4 x 1.4 TC, handheld
f5.6, 1/640, ISO800

Empidonax flycatchers are hard. I am uncertain of the ID. The photo was taken at Camas Prairie, Idaho yesterday. It's not yellow enough to be a Cordilleran, and the primaries seem to long for a Gray. 

75% of full frame. Very slight sharpening of the bird. I'm not happy about the bright areas, but without flash – which I rarely use in the field – I don't know if there's anything else I could have done.

C & C, please. ID suggests seriously considered. Thanks for looking.

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on May 16, 2016 at 2:37 PM
This really needs to be seen as a large detailed image.  Much better than the smaller image. Great techs. The colors work very well and the backlighting is pleasant.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 16, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Excellent detail on the bird Jim. Not sure about the fill flash, it  might have brought down some of the bright spots-but you might have also had trouble controlling the fill with the ambient light that you had-you would have had to be very light handed with the fill here. Overall I think you did pretty well.
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on May 16, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Hi Jim,

Good eye spotting this little flycatcher. Big version has some nice detail and the bird shows itself well.  Flash may have helped, but getting a little flycatcher with an ideal BG is not always possible.  I really do not mind the bright patches and prefer this composition which shows that you take the shot to capture the momentdevil............................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Bell on May 17, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Jim, I would vote for Gray rather than Hammond's.  It looks to me like the tail is not distinctly notched but rather rounded, and I note the white outer edge of the tail, which I don't think the Hammond's has.  I agree with you re the primary projection, but it is hard to tell with most of the primaries being behind the limb.   Also, I think the Hammond's has more of a vest than seems to be on this bird.  Anyway, it is a very good capture of a hard to photograph group of birds.  I enjoyed studying it in the large detailed image.
Registered on February 21, 2016, 187 Posts, 192 Comments