Gray Flycatcher is the expected Empidonax anywhere in Colorado in April. They are commonly found up and down the Front Range as migrants, as well as on their breeding grounds in Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands.
A quick eBird search brought up three recent checklists with photos of purported Gray Flycatchers from the Denver Metro area:
Like Norm, I find the field mark of downward tail wagging to be overly emphasized and often confounded by birders. The field mark that I find to be most reliable is the unique bill shape of Gray Flycatcher, being longer and with a shallower depth than other Empids, and having a distinct awl-shaped lower mandible. The lower mandible is always a nice clean orange color with a contrasting dark tip. Combine the bill shape/color with a round head and a bold pale lore, and then maybe a behavioral clue like tail dipping. Using this as guidance, it's clear that all reports of Gray Flycatcher in the Denver Metro area this year are 100% accurate.
Christian Nunes
Boulder, CO
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Norm Erthal <normanerthal@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2020 8:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Gray Flycatcher ID
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2020 8:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Gray Flycatcher ID
I have seen several posts on Ebird for gray flycatcher. The ones with photos are not convincing for gray flycatcher. The id seems to be based on downward tail flicking. This may be the worst field mark for empids, They all flick their tails down. About the only thing that can be said with certainty is if they flick their tails up, they are probably not gray.
-- Norm Erthal
Arvada
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