On Thursday, 18 January 2001, Rusty Trump and I visited Debbie and Colin Grimes' farm in southern Brooks Co., GA, to observe and photograph a Myiarchus flycatcher that had been initially located by Duane and Debbie Kelsey, and subsequently by Debbie Grimes, around 9 January 2001.

Since Georgia has no verifiable records of any Myiarchus flycatcher other than the Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), a common summer resident throughout the state, it was important to at least get photographs of the bird and to submit a report to the Georgia Ornithological Society's Checklist and Records Committee for review.  There are two previous reports of Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) in the state, but neither has been documented to my knowledge.  This is most likely the first verifiable record for Georgia for this species.

The bird had most often been observed in the afternoon by Debbie and Diane along a fence row at the edge of a pine plantation that bordered a large overgrown field.  After a failed attempt at locating the bird along this fence row on the morning of 18 January, Rusty and I literally almost stumbled on it while making our way across this field and its waist-high vegetation to another fence row on the opposite side of the field.  We watched the bird for approximately 1 3/4 hours, and for the majority of the time, it stayed low in the weeds in the field, no more than 6 - 8 inches off of the ground.  On several instances, it successfully nabbed several large invertebrates, including grasshoppers and moths.  Occasionally, the bird would fly overhead and perch at the edge of a small "island" of trees in the middle of the field for a short period of  time (five - fifteen minutes), then return to the field to feed.

During one instance, the Ash-throated Flycatcher chased an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), which was also patrolling the wooded edges.  It appeared to be noticeably larger than the phoebe during these periods of interaction.

The bird was initially identified as an Ash-throated Flycatcher by Debbie Grimes.  After Rusty and I observed the bird, we concurred, based on several characteristics that this bird exhibited.  There are some plumage caveats, however.  Because of these caveats, namely the undertail pattern and secondary edging coloration, we feel that this particular individual was exhibiting some retained juvenile characteristics (thus, an after hatch year bird).  Molt timing is obviously an issue if this was to be an after-hatch year bird.

General Description

• Slim looking, with a well-proportioned head and bill;
  
• Pale gray sides of breast, whitish throat, and pale, creamy yellow belly, lower breast and vent;
  
• Somewhat darker gray auriculars and nape, contrasting well with the brown head and crown;
  
• Brownish to brownish-gray above above (depending on the light), with darker wings broadly edged with an off-white on the coverts, tertials and some secondaries;
  
• Some secondary edges appeared whitish, while others appeared to have a distinct pale rufous (or perhaps reddish-buff) coloration; this is particularly noticeable in the first, fourth and fifth scans.  The whitish coloration appears to be characteristic of an adult Ash-throated, while the pale rufous may be an artifact of juvenile plumage;
  
• Primaries richly edged with rufous, especially towards the base of the primaries;
  
• Bill entirely black; gape was closest to a dull yellow-peach color (note the pinkish growth at the base of bill on the left side of the head in the first scan);
  
• Rufous underside of retrices, with dark brown/black outer tail margins that fanned inward at the tip of the retrices (except the central retrices). Many people have asked about the pattern, as Ash-throateds have a diagnostic undertail pattern when in adult plumage. Rusty, Debbie and I had an opportunity to observe the undertail pattern through a scope. I can say with certainty that this bird did not have the dark tip of the tail that would be expected of an adult Ash-throated Flycatcher. However, the pattern did fit that of a bird that is still showing some juvenile characteristics. This pattern may be observed in the second scan.  I can also say that the tail did not appear to fold properly (as may be seen in the first scan), and could possibly have been missing a feather or two, which may support the age theory.
  
• The call notes that Rusty and I noted were similar to those described in the field guides, and it is almost impossible to describe them accurately; the notes were a rather soft "pip" or "pik", and a short, burry "pert". Although the calls were somewhat soft (given how raucous this genus of flycatchers can be), they stood out amongst the scads of "seets" given by the unbelievable number of Savannah Sparrows in Debbie's yard.

Resources referenced:

Haney, Christopher J., et. al., 1986, Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds.
Howell, Steve N. G., and Webb, Sophie, 1995, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.
National Geographic Society, 1999, Field Guide to the Birds of North America.  Third edition.
Pyle, Peter, 1997, Identification Guide to North American Birds. Part I.
Sibley, David A., 2000, National Audubon Society The Sibley Guide to Birds.
Zimmer, Kevin J., 2000, Birding in the American West: a handbook.

Text by James F. Flynn, Jr.

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