To Karen Kearney and all photographers:
Karen those are great photos on Flicker for species identification.
But, probably worthless for subspecies id.
"Ned Brinkley says that good photographs of the flycatcher's primaries could
determine the subspecies.
Ned is correct, what is need are photos that show the shape of the outer
primaries, I think the outer 3 or 4 primaries. These are deeply emarginated in
the nominate subspecies Tyrannus savanna savanna. The degree and shape of the
emargination varies with different subspecies (I think there maybe four
subspecies). But it also varies with the sex and age of the bird.
This feature is most pronounced in adult males in fresh plumage.
So photos on the wing that are completely out of focus, except for the wing
tips might be great for subspecies ID.
To me Karen's number 2 photo looks like some of the wing feathers are blacker,
and other browner, perhaps indication that this bird is molting.
(The originals may show more detail.) And the tail is a mess, worn.
I saw the second record for Maryland (Sept. 1997) and Jim Stasz took a
fantastic picture with the bird stretching its wing, every feather clearly
visible in detail.
It was an adult male of the nominate subspecies.
David Bridge
