19 October 2008

Wee Gray Bird


I thought this an Eastern Kingbird; the black hood, black eye, and white throat, and feeding behaviour—whooshing off the perch for what I presume were bugs, then returning—argued for this.

However, bill size and shape are wrong, tail shape is very wrong, and the tail lacks the white tail tip characteristic of the Eastern Kingbird.

So, having consulted with Mr. David Allen Sibley (The Sibley Guide to Birds) and Ms. Janice Hughes (The ROM Field Guide to Birds of Ontario), I think this is an Eastern Phoebe.

But would, of course, welcome other opinions.

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