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education: birds of georgia Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
Status in Georgia: Accidental in winter: 16 Dec 2000 on St.Catherine's Island CBC ( Liberty ) (O 66:38 GCRC 2001-03); 8-20 Jan 2001 south of Quitman ( Brooks ) ; 16 - 19 Feb 2008 near Newton (Baker) . Two other reports probably pertained to the species: a Myiarchus flycatcher reported at Augusta ( Richmond ) 27 Nov 1998 without supporting details and a Myiarchus flycatcher reported on the 2006 Albany CBC from Brooks within two miles of the Feb 2008 sighting without supporting details. (Beaton et al 2003). Probably an annual visitor to the southwestern quadrant of the Coastal Plain that goes mostly undetected because of the vastness of the areas of private land and the small number of observers. Habitat: Breeding: Generally found in arid or semiarid scrub and open woods as well as riparian woodlands in arid or semiarid regions, occurring from sea level to approx. 2000 m, occasionally to 2400 m, and rarely to 2750 m. Does not breed in moist, densely forested Coast Ranges or moist lower elevations along coast; occurs near coast on drier hillsides and in drier valleys. The species can occur in very sparse desert scrub as long as adequate food is available because it does not need water and can nest in relatively small nest cavities (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). Winter: Occurs in wider variety of habitats than during breeding season, including suburban neighborhoods, parks, woodlots, hedge-rows in agricultural areas, riparian oases in deserts, successional scrub, and forest edge. Dense, humid forest generally avoided. On Pacific slope in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, occurs from sea level up to 1850 m in arid sub-tropical and tropical scrub, tropical deciduous forest and woodland edge (Monroe 1968, Land 1970, Binford 1989) (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). In LA, vagrants have occurred mainly in coastal scrub (chenier) and woodlands dominated by hackberry and sweet acacia ( Acacia farnesiana ), in small woodlots or on the edges of larger deciduous and mixed deciduous- live oak ( Quercus virginiana ), in successional riparian scrub along old canals through farmland or marshes and in Chinese tallow or American Elder ( Sanbucus canadensis ) dominated second-growth forest (LSUMZ). In Georgia, vagrants have occurred in the following habitats: on St. Catherine's Island in deciduous/live oak dominated forest; in Brooks in mixed forest edge along andropogon field; in Baker in mature dogwood tree still in fruit and in the dense lower branches of mature live oak on edge of andropogon field and hog lot. Unconfirmed reports: near Augusta in deciduous forest edge and near Newton (Baker) (2006) in large,weedy field. Breeding range: TX (all but non-coastal eastern one third), NM, AZ, CA, NV, UT, s and w CO, se ID, OR (south and east of Cascades), central WA, Baha California and north-central states of MX. Winter Range: sw AZ, most of Baha California except extreme nw corner, Pacific slope from MX to Honduras. Rare but annual in FL (Stevenson and Anderson 1994), LA and e TX. Rare to casual or accidental in LA (13 Jan 1985, specimen LSUMZ; VA (Scott 1979 and Armistead 1980); TN (Alsop 1990: MS (Turcotte and Watts 1999); WVA (Dean and Hershberger 1996); AL (G.D. Jackson, pers.comm); and GA (probably in southwestern counties of Coastal Plain). Diet: In spring and summer, mainly arthropods, primarily adult and larval insects, especially grasshoppers and rarely small reptiles and mammals, mainly small lizards and rodents. In fall and winter, a similar diet that is more heavily supplemented with small fruits. In Baker Co, GA seen eating dogwood berries (17 Feb 2008, Z. Goff pers. comm.); in AZ, mistletoe berries (Kaufman 1996); in Sonora, cardon, saguaro and organ-pipe cactus fruits (Russell and Monson 1998). Identification: [This species must be identified with caution because of similarities to other Myiarchus flycatchers. Ash-throated is the most likely Myiarchus in winter in Georgia, but Brown-crested Flycatcher has been recorded in Florida and is possible in Georgia, and a lingering Great-crested Flycatcher has occurred in late fall (Pendergrass ( Jackson) 6 Nov 1993). Nutting's Flycatcher and Dusky-capped Flycatcher are highly unlikely.] Medium sized tyrant flycatcher (L 8.5in; WS 12 in; WT 0.95 oz) (Sibley 2000) with relatively long tail and big head with a bushy crest. Bill is black and rather long with a slight hook. Sexes appear the same but male slightly larger. Breeding adult: Upperparts drab grayish-brown. Head: crown and face brownish; auriculars grayish; gray nape forms a vague collar that extends around under the auricular area; chin and upper breast white to whitish-gray; lower breast and undertail coverts pale yellow. Wings: scapulars same grayish-brown as back; two whitish wing-bars on blackish median and greater coverts; blackish tertials broadly edged in whitish; whitish edges of blackish secondaries form "secondary panel" on folded wing; Bright rufous basal outer web of primaries form rufous "primary panel" on folded wing; Tail: undertail color pattern is a key distinguishing field mark of species in most adult birds, with a dark border to the entire undertail. Dark line along the outer edge of undertail extends across the tip of the tail feathers, unlike any other Myiarchus flycatcher. A few adults and all juveniles lack the dark tail tip. Mouth-lining usually flesh-colored (orange in Nutting's). Key diagnostic vocalizations: "ka-brick, ka-brick" and "ha-wheer" (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002) (Sibley 2000). The individual seen in Baker County on 18 Feb 2008 was heard to make a rising, rather musical "wheer," another well-known vocalization (Lanyon 1961) (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). Non-breeding adult: Similar to breeding adult. Freshly molted birds are very sharply and brightly marked. It is unknown whether the molt into non-breeding plumage occurs on the breeding ground, on the wintering grounds or a combination of both (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). Migration: Breeding populations almost entirely migratory, but the populations in s Baja California and coastal lowlands of Sonora, MX are considered sedentary (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). Spring: Most individuals leave wintering grounds in Central America and s MX by Mar-Apr. Known wintering birds remained in s CA into late Mar and into late Apr in FL (Stevenson and Anderson 1994, LSUMZ). Earliest arrivals in early to mid Mar in low deserts of AZ and se CA and migration continues across range into May. Fall: In w U.S., generally leave breeding areas Jul-Aug and are rarely in breeding areas in Sep. Vagrants could arrive in Georgia in early fall. Majority of Gulf Coast records from LA (23 records, 24 Sep-14 Nov (LSUMZ); 4 records from coastal AL from mid-Oct to early Nov; one record from coastal MS in early Nov. Conservation: Generally not considered threatened or endangered but "priority species" at northern edge of breeding range in WA (Seavey pers. comm.). In WA, preferred Oregon oak habitat is becoming scarce (Seavey 2000). Habitat loss from agriculture, urbanization, and suburbanization and flood-control projects has reduced numbers locally. Ash-throated Flycatchers readily nest in wooden nest boxes, and experiments using nest boxes to increase nesting success has shown some promise (Bock et al 1992) (Cardiff and Dittmann 2002). Works cited: Alsop, F.J. III. 19990. First Tennessee Record of Ash-throated Flycatcher. Migrant 61: 41-43. Armistead, H.T. 1980. Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Am. Birds 33: 260-263. Beaton, G., P.W. Sykes, and J.W. Parrish, Jr. Annotated checklist of Georgia birds. Occasional Publication No. 14. Georgia Ornithological Society. 2003. Binford. L. C. 1989. A distributional survey of the birds of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Ornithol. Monogr. No. 43. Bock, C.E., A. Cruz, Jr., M.C. Grant, C.S. Aid, and T.R. Strong. 1992. Field experimental evidence for diffuse competition among southwestern riparian birds. Am. Nat. 140: 815-828. Cardiff, Steven W., and Donna L. Dittmann.2002. Ash-throated Flycatcher ( Myiarchus cinerascens ), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca. Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from Birds of North America Online: February 21, 2008, http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/664 Dean, R.S. and W.C. Hershberger. 1991. Ash-throated Flycatcher in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Redstart 58: 61-62. Kaufman, K. 1996.Lives of North American birds. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York. Land, H.C. 1970. The birds of Guatemala. Livingston Publ. Co. Wynnewood, PA. Lanyon, W.E. 1961. Specific limits and distribution of Ash-throated Flycatcher and Nutting's Flycatcher. Condor 63:421-449. LSUMZ. 2002. Louisiana State Museum of Natural History. Baton Rouge, LA. Monroe, B.L, Jr. 1968. A distributional study of the birds of Honduras. Ornithol.Monogr. 7. Russell, S.M. and G. Monson. 1998. The birds of Sonora. Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson. Seavey, J. 2000. Nesting success of Ash-throated Flycatcher in Washington. Wash. Birds 7:39-44. Sibley, D. 2000. The Sibley guide to birds. Chanticleer Press. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. Stevenson, H.M.and B.H.Anderson.1994. The birdlife of Florida. Univ.Press of Florida, Gainesville. Scott, F.R. 1979. Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Am. Birds 33: 270-272. Turcotte, W.H. and L.D. Watts. 1999. Birds of Mississippi Univ. Press of Mississippi, Jackson.
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