Good question Phil. I am very familiar with Leaden Flycatcher and not
familiar with Broad-Billed. The first thing that drew my attention to this
bird was by seeing it directly from below and the shape of its bill. When
viewed from below Leadens have a triangular shaped bill, this bird was very
different. Much broader at the base, and frogmouth-like. On seeing this bird
this feature was "stunningly" different. The undertail was also notably
different, with feathers more spaced out, giving a rounded-tail appearance -
leadens are much narrower giving a squared-tailed appearance (again viewed
from underneath). The reason I thought this bird was a female is that the
plumage had a washed appearance (i.e. not particularly glossy) plus -perhaps
more importantly it had distinctly paler lores giving the impression of a
paler band between the eye and bill base.
I had a couple of pretty good views of this bird both from below and more
side on and would have to agree that with a side on view it would be tough
to call it, but from below you see the undertail pattern and of course bill
shape clearly, which are both features which are very different from Leaden.
I would challenge that these birds would be easily missed and are
possibility more common south of Cape York than perhaps we think - anyone
else have any views?
There were a number of Leaden Flycatchers around also.
Cheers
Simon.
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