JavaSwift Kurt Radamaker
Arizona Gallery

This empid was observed at the Dateland Date orchard on 22 September 2007. Cindy and I watched it at length over a 30 minute period while it foraged actively and frenetically. Overall it was gray-green above and yellow and olive below with a very short broad bill and dark "blackish" wings, with bold white wingbars and tertial edgings. The throat was a grayish yellow, the breast was olive gray and the belly yellow. The bill was entirely pink-flesh below, quite short and broad. The primary extension seemed medium to short and the tail medium to long.The crown and nape was gray and contrasted with the throat and cheek, the grayish head reminded me of Hammond's Flycatcher. The eyering was prominent and was of even thickness throughout except for a slight widening behind the eye. It seemed un-western flycatcher like, because of its rounded head and lack of any crest, even in the wind! I noted a classic looking "Western" nearby that was brownish, worn and drab, and it had a distinctive crest. and lacked the contrast in the wings.

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