Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Alder Flycatcher
Scientific name:	Empidonax alnorum
Date:	sept. 13, 2016
Time:	9:40 a.m.
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Salt Lake International Center 40.7717257,-112.0115992
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	6
Elevation:	about 4300'
Distance to bird:	25'
Optical equipment:	binoculars and 500mm camera lens
Weather:	63* and partly cloudy
Light Conditions:	good
Description: Size of bird:	looked typical for an Empid. Hard to judge the exact size on a lone bird.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	flycatcher
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	olive, brown, and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	wide convex and longish
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	This ID is 4 months in the making and I believe would be a first state record. In the field my impression was Willow Flycatcher but the eye-ring did not look right. Eye-ring much to pronounced. The bird also seemed more colorful than what I remembered for any Willow. My doubt caused my to put the binoculars down and go to the camera. After loosing the bird across the street I started to study the few photos I had captured. I didn't know what to think but I have seen many many Willow Flycatchers over the years and I was feeling it wasn't a Willow. After consulting the books in my car I played with the idea that it fit Alder really well. I called Bryant Olsen and told him I had a possible Alder Flycatcher. He couldn't come right away but he went in the afternoon and captured a few photos of what looked like the same bird but his photos were from a lot further away. The next 2 weeks or so became a debate by email. Bryant also sent the photos to a number of people. Together we settled on Yellow-bellied Flycatcher for all the reasons that were stated in the record Bryant submitted last fall. I had no positive feed back on my Alder Flycatcher ID and since there are no Utah records I easily gave that up. I have no experience with Eastern Flycatchers. Willow was suggested by some but the eye-ring is to pronounced and the green is to vibrant so I was not willing to call it that. Fast forward to present. Kenny Frisch received this comment from Tony Leukering at ebird central, -"Alder Fly -- the bright white throat rules YBFL out in every plumage; tail is wide-based, upper parts are quite green; mandible is entirely yellow-orange -- there's really nothing else that it can be" This was the first anyone had agreed with my initial impression in the field. I know this is a tough ID and my experience is seriously lacking with Alder flycatchers. My lack of confidence on this is very high so I have tried to rely on others who may have more experience with the Empids we don't see often in Utah. But I do feel strongly at this point that I finally got this one right. Hopefully this is a first state record. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none
Behavior:	Flycatching
Habitat:	Austrian Pines, Russian Olives, and Cottonwoods over wet weedy half kept lawn.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	All Empids lacking the all yellow lower mandible were eliminated. Willow eliminated because of eye-ring, color, and broad tail. Color, eye-ring, and primaries don't fit the western flycatchers. Yellow-bellied eliminated because even though in rare cases a photo or two on the ebird library did fit it, namely some appear to have the white throat, that ID may have been a bit of a stretch and forced. The white contrasting throat, pattern and color do fit Alder better.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have a lot of experience with the ID of the Empids we more regularly see every year and migration here in Utah. I have no experience with Alder Flycatchers.
References consulted:	NG birds of Western NA, Sibley second edition, Peterson Advanced Birding, and Kaufman Advanced Birding. Internet Empid ID documents. 100's of online confirmed ID photos.
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Matthew Pendleton
Observer's address:	12043 Bluff View Dr. Sandy 84092
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	2/6/2017
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I will email photos to Milton.