Palm Springs Area Bird (1 Viewer)

[FlyingTank]

Hi all, can anyone help me identify the bird in the attached photo - sorry it is not more clear. Saw this last week at Whitewater Reserve near Palm Springs, CA. Thanks!

 

[nartreb]

[great crested flycatcher, I think]

Strike that. Palm Springs *California* => brown-crested flycatcher. WhIch I actually liked a little better due to paleness of throat.

 

[njlarsen]

Sorry to disagree, my first impression is Western Wood Pewee

Niels

 

[Kratter]

It's a Western Wood Pewee
Andy

 

[nartreb]

I think you two are right - there's a contrast between the pale throat and the ashy breast in photo 2, that rules out either crested flycatcher. I mis-judged the length of the tail -- but I'm still confused by that red color on the tail. Lens artifact? (Chromatic aberration.)

 

[fugl]

but I'm still confused by that red color on the tail. Lens artifact? (Chromatic aberration.)

To my eye, the tail is slightly warmer in tone (less gray) than the rest of the upperparts, but I don't see even a tinge of red. Maybe the fault's in your monitor settings? (Chromatic aberration BTW is an edge phenomenon with nothing to do with overall tone.)

 

[etudiant]

To my eye, the tail is slightly warmer in tone (less gray) the rest of the upper parts, but I don't see even a tinge of red. Maybe the fault's in your monitor settings? (Chromatic aberration BTW is an edge phenomenon with nothing to do with overall tone.)

Agree on the Western Wood Pewee ID, the vest is pretty clearly inconsistent with any of Great Crested etc types.
That said, the tail shows Hermit Thrush rufous on my monitor as well, which is peculiar for a Pewee.

 

[FlyingTank]

Thanks for all the advice! Really appreciate it

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

I don't see the rufous in the tail. WW Pewee for me.

 

[KenM]

FWIW another one...for ''warm'' tail contrasting with grey upperparts.

cheers

 

[Microtus]

While the first photo shows a reddish tail, there is nothing else in the photos that would suggest a Myiarchus. Western Wood-Pewee for me.