San Diego Year Bird #229: Hammond's Flycatcher

Hammond's Flycatcher. May 4, 2014. Fallbrook, California. Greg Gillson.

I'm not getting as much practice identifying Empidonax flycatchers in San Diego as I used to get in Oregon where there were 5 common breeding species. I don't have any sightings of Dusky, Gray, or Willow Flycatcher yet this year in San Diego County. These are migrants only here and don't usually breed this far south. Actually, Hammond's don't breed either, but these are nearly common spring migrants here. The only regular breeding Empid here is Pacific-slope Flycatcher.

If I just remember Empid ID in 3 easy steps I'll do all right. Primary Extension: long; Bill Shape: short and straight-sided; Lower Mandible Color Pattern: mostly dark.