Leaden vs. Satin flycatcher questions

[Chip <>]

Sorry Philip. I should have sent this to the list, too.

          Good points, Philip.
 On habitat, I was on the edge of a wet, open area bordered by woodland on 
one side and forest on the other. The reason I say a large number of Satin's 
is because most of the males appeared to have very dark, glistening heads 
without a hint of gray on the upperparts. As well, when they did sing, it 
was a Satin song I was hearing. At only one time did I hear the Leaden song. 
 
 I'll look for the dividing line between the throat and belly. Thanks for 
the tip!.
 
 Chip

Philip Veerman wrote:

Hi Chip,

 

I understand the difficulties. They are difficult. However I am left with a question. I should first preface that I have no idea where or what sort of habitat "Yanununbeyan SC" is, and I expect that the two species breed in different types of habitat. Typically Leaden Flycatcher are a woodland species & Satin Flycatcher are a forest species.

 

On what features do you base the conclusion that there was "a large number of Satin flycatchers and a few Leaden flycatchers"? What I mean is, given the difficulties you describe, how would you reach a conclusion? I'm not suggesting your id or count is wrong or right.

 

The main reliable character, other than that the male Satin Flycatcher is darker than the male Leaden Flycatcher, appears to be the shape of the dividing line of the dark throat to white belly of the male. Straight in Leaden Flycatcher & curved in Satin Flycatcher. HANZAB also says that the Satin Flycatcher is much larger than the Leaden Flycatcher.

 

Philip

----- Original Message ----- From: To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");"> Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 5:49 PM

Subject: [canberrabirds] Leaden vs. Satin flycatcher questions

I birded Yanununbeyan SC this morning ( about 40 species) and was treated to courtship displays of a large number of Satin flycatchers and a few Leaden flycatchers. I must say that I had a tough time telling them apart and, without song to help, I would have been stumped.  

Maybe I'm mistaken but is it rather difficult to see the difference in "colour" of the back and head of the Leaden flycatcher? Pizzey and Knight (7th) show that the back is gray and the head is black. I saw hints of that in some light but I think it's rather hard to tell if these are true spectral differences or apparent differences due to shadow and, possibly,  irridescence.

On many males some of the primary feathers appeated to be edge in white. This appears in P & K. Is it diagnostic?

As to females, the difference in saturation of the orange-buff on the throat would, I think, only be possible to discriminate if two prototypical birds of both species were side-by-side. Is the white upper throat, difficult to see unless underneath the bird, diagnostic of the female Leaden flycatcher?

Finally, as to song, there wasn't much. It was much more common to hear the buzzy, "zu/irrrp" and often when a male and female were close to each other. Is this a sort of "Let me whisper in your ear, dear" kind of communication?

Chip Scialfa
Calgary and Canberra