For birders all over the world
Mystery Flycatcher
We have in all probability, three possibilities.
1. Collared Flycatcher
2. Pied Flycatcher of the NW African race, speculigera
3. A hybrid CollaredxPied Flycatcher
The brownish, first-generation primaries indicate that it is a second calendar-year (‘first-summer’) male, the white at the base, therefore, is that which would appear in the bird’s first autumn. The white extends to P3 (numbered ascendantly) and, on the closed wing, extends beyond the tips of the primary coverts by c.2 or 3 mm. As such, it is probably too extensive for Pied, and much more in line with Collared.
The all-black tail favours Collared or Pied speculigera, however, having established that it is a second cal-year, would tend to indicate Collared - speculigera frequently retain their female-coloured tail into the second cal-year (whereas ‘first-summer’ Collared returns with adult black tail in 90% of cases). Hybrids also tend to have some white in the tail.
The white collar appears quite narrow and looks broken with a link between the crown and the mantle (though the posture in the hand is awkward). Though this is known to occur in Collared, it is quite unusual and remains a bit of a problem. The white on the forehead is not especially large as in typical Collared and is well within the range shown for speculigera. The rump is fairly white, but is not the clear-cut, square white patch associated with classic Collared Flycatcher.
The outer greater coverts may be of importance. The outer greater-covert is largely black, and black is also visible (thought decreasing in amount) on the bases of the next four feathers. Speculigera tends to have extensive white onto the outer greater coverts, appearing almost solidly white or with limited black at the base of the outer. This, therefore, favours Collared.
Biometrics would help. Speculigera invariably has P2 =5/6, whereas this is uncommon among Collareds, in which P2 is equal to P4/5 rarely P5 and exceptionally P5/6. On the shot with the wing spread, the tip of P2 looks close to that of P3/4, only about 3 or 4 mm short, and therefore indicates Collared. The wing length of iberiae Pied is of 75-79mm; of speculigera it is 78-82mm; on Collared it is 77-87mm, exceptionally less than 79 (Svensson 1992).
So what are we left with? When it was trapped it was identified as Collared, and most, if not all, of the visible features fit this, but can we really eliminate Pied of the race speculigera on the visible features? I suspect that we can, but it does show how difficult ‘sterile’ mystery photographs can be.
Acknowledgements
Surfbirds would like to thank all of those surfbirders who found the time to send their opinions. In particular we would like to thank Lars Svensson, who’s response has been heavily drawn upon here.
Brian Small