Pine Flycatcher (Empidonax affinis), Aliso Spring, Santa Rita Mts., Pima County

This Pine Flycatcher was found and photographed by Dave Stejskal on 28 May 2016 and photographed by Gary Rosenberg on 30 May, Gavin Bieber and Monte Taylor on 31 May, Deanna Mac Phail on 10 June, and Christie Van Cleve on 15 June. As of mid-June it was tending a nest.

This not only represents the first record for Arizona, but also the first documented record for the United States. Pine Flycatcher is widely distributed throughout the mountains on both slopes in Mexico from s.w Chihuahua/s.e. Sonora south to southern Guatemala. Russell & Monson (1998) cite only one specimen for Sonora in the s.e. corner, but there have been several reports since then reported in eBird in the Alamos and Yecora areas north to La India. The latter site is some 175 miles south of the U.S. border.

Empidonax flycatchers represent some of the most challenging bird identifications in North America and this little known species can be especially tricky. Pine Flycatcher resembles Cordilleran/Pacific-slope Flycatcher in appearance and Dusky Flycatcher in its calls. Pine is often quite yellow below (not the case with this bird), including the throat, and greenish-gray above, with a pronounced peak to the head, an almond-shaped eyering that is pointed in the rear, a long and narrow bill with a completely orange or pinkish-orange lower mandible, black legs and feet, strongly contrasting whitish wing-bars, long primary projection, and a longish tail.

28 May 2016, photo by Dave Stejskal

30 May 2016, photo by Gary Rosenberg

31 May 2016, photo by Gavin Bieber

 

31 May 2016, photo by Monte Taylor

 

10 June 2016, photo by Deanna Mac Phail

 

15 June 2016, photo by Christie Van Cleve

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