The Ficedula flycatcher below was photographed in Windhoek, Namibia, on 12 October 1998. This genus is very rare anywhere in southern Africa, but the specific identification of this bird is uncertain at this time. The three species of black-and-white Ficedula flycatchers, Semi-collared (F. semitorquata), Pied (F. hypoleuca), and Collared (F. albicollis) can be extremely difficult to tell apart. Below are the circumstances of the discovery of this bird as well as a detailed list of email discussions regarding the possible identification. If this bird is a Pied or Semi-collared it would apparently represent the first record for southern Africa. If it is a Collared Flycatcher, it would be only one of a very few records of that species for the region.
Details: On 12 October 1998, Victor Emanuel and I arrived in Windhoek, Namibia at the start of an 11 day birding trip. Victor has considerable experience with African birding, but this was my very first birding trip to the "old" world, so virtually every bird I saw was new to me. We were heading to the Huab Lodge along the Huab River, but had a few hours to do some local birding. Karin Bottger, a local tour guide, had met us at the airport in Windhoek and had graciously agreed to take us birding until our 5 PM departure on a small, private aircraft for the Huab Lodge. The first place we visited was the local sewer pond complex where there were many new birds for me. I was mainly occupied in looking at Red-knobbed Coots, Egyptian Geese, African Shelducks, Hottentot Teal, Wood and Common Sandpipers and other new "lifers" when Victor called my attention to a small black and white flycatcher that was making short sallies for insects in a shaded area of woods. I admit to being very distracted by all the other birds, and did not pay a great deal of attention to this flycatcher. Finally, Victor, Karin, and I began looking through the Sasol guide and the 1991 version of the Newman bird guide to southern Africa in an effort to ID this flycatcher. The only illustrated similar bird was Collared Flycatcher, and that is what we tentatively identified the bird as. Victor encouraged me to photograph the bird as he was unsure about previous records of this species for Namibia. I was able to get three shots of this bird with a Canon EOS 1N & EF 300mm F4L IS lens with a 1.4X extender (=420 mm) on Fuji Sensia 100 slide film. We saw the bird off an on for about 15 minutes, then lost sight of it.
Description: I confess to not paying a great deal of attention to this bird. As stated above, every bird I saw was new to me, and this was just another new bird at the time. Later, however, when we realized this might be a significant record, I did get a couple of photos. That evening I made a few notes on the bird in my journal. The transcript of the notes I made that evening reads:
"Collared Flycatcher, 12 Oct 1998, Windhoek, Namibia sewage ponds.
Small flycatcher - black eye and black bill - flycatcher shaped bill - all black above, clean white below. Extensive white visible from side or back on folded wing - white on wing extended down secondaries and on to median wing coverts. White area at base of bill - above bill. Entire crown and nape black - but thin at nape - the white throat and lower face clearly demarked from black cap and upper face. Similar in size to numerous Pririt Batis in the area but this bird more slender and somewhat longer tailed. Tail looked black - I did not notice any white in it while bird was perched. Made short flights - 1st seen eye level - later moved higher. I got 2-3 photos which I hope will be diagnostic."
Victor Emanuel's written description written the evening of the observation reads "Pied or Collared Flycatcher sighting. On October 12 about noon, Greg Lasley, Karin Bottger and I were walking around the Windhoek sewage ponds when I spotted a small black and white flycatcher that I did not recognize. I showed it to the others. It was perched in an acacia tree about 15 feet off the ground and about 10-15 yards from us. It was in poor light. After it flew we consulted the Sasol guide and noted that the bird closely resembled a breeding plumaged Collared Flycatcher except that it lacked the white collar shown in the illustration. A few minutes I relocated the bird and we observed it for about 5 minutes as it moved from small tree to small tree between the road and the pond. Finally it crossed the road and perched in another tree and then flew off. Greg got three photos. Description: Size was about the length of a Masked Weaver but more slender, Color: bill was short and black, eye was black, plumage, entirely black above except for small white forehead and large white wing patch which involved the primaries and some of the secondaries and tertials. The black on the head extended down to just below the eye. Entirely white below. Behavior: Perched erect or leaned slightly forward, made short flights from perch to perch of 5-15 feet. When it alighted it slowly raised and lowered its tail."
Further Discussion: I should point out that we did notify a local birder in Windhoek on the day of this sighting. I do not have his name with me, but when Victor returns from leading a trip I will add that information. I do know that this gentleman went to look for the bird without success. Another local observer, Karin Bottger, was with us when the bird was found. As stated, I have no previous Africa birding experience, but I do have 25 years of birding experience in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and in the past decade have made trips to many locations in Central and South America. I am the Secretary of the Texas Bird Records Committee and am aware of what material is necessary to document a rarity report. Admittedly, the information I obtained on this bird could be more complete, but I am presenting what I have available. I do know that Victor wrote up notes on this bird as well which will be available to interested parties. At the time I am writing this, Victor is in Madagascar leading a birding tour. (Victor's written description added above on 25 November, 1998). While we were in Africa we had no access to European guides, so we were anxious to get home in order to attempt to identify this bird with greater confidence.
This bird was generally perceived to be black and white, and thus a mostly breeding-plumaged male. It lacked the white collar of a Collared Flycatcher, but our African references indicated that winter males resemble females and lack the collar. The problem was our bird was still in what appeared to be mostly breeding male plumage, yet lacked a white collar. This is when Pied Flycatcher entered or thoughts.
When I returned to the U.S. on 24 October I was able to consult Birds of Europe by Lars Jonsson and other guides. I learned of Semi-collared Flycatcher, a species that had apparently been split from Collared Flycatcher in some past years. Still, things about our bird did not cleanly seem to "fit" any of these species. The white above the bill was fairly large and obvious, more suggestive of Collared and less suggestive of Pied or Semi-collared, at least from the Jonsson illustrations. On October 26, I got my slides developed and was able to see what I had been able to capture on film. I got three shots of this bird in a shaded location, however, two of the shots are identical so in effect I have only two photographed images of this bird. These images added more confusion still. The white in the wings closely matched the illustrations of shown for these Ficedula flycatchers, but the white at the base of the primaries was not as extensive as illustrated for Collared and Semi-collared and was more suggestive of Pied, again, this is judging solely from the illustrations I have at hand.
I scanned these slides on a slide scanner into my computer and sent them to an experienced British observer now living in Texas. I also sent email requests for help to other parties. Below will be a chronological list of the email exchanges and other information. I am "cutting and pasting" the below material from email. I am typing this on 27 October 1998, but will continue to add to the below information until I feel we have gone as far as we can with arriving at a reasonable ID of this bird.
I have removed the names of the persons making the ID comments below since I have not sought their permission to generally post their private messages to me.
October 26, 1998
Hi
Here are the two flycatcher shots. As I mentioned, I took 3 total, but the
image labeled Fly1 is exactly like the shot I am not sending. No
manipulation has been done to these images other that to slightly lighten
the picture since it was in the shade. This lightening process has caused
me to realize that part of the bird's head and central back are dark gray
rather than black, but I still think the bird is an ad. male, perhaps
molting into basic plumage. These shots were taken in Windhoek, Namibia,
on 12 October 1998 at about noon.
Using the Jonsson "Birds of Europe" guide, I am leaning toward
Semi-collared Flycatcher as you suggested might be the case, however, the
size of the white frontal patch above the bill (visible in one of the
photos) is perhaps more suggestive of Collared Flycatcher...at least
judging by the field guide illustrations alone; I have no personal
experience with any of these possibilities. The bird seems to lack the
extensive white in the primary covert area as is shown for both Collared
and Semi-collared...and in this character alone it seems more suggestive of
Pied Flycatcher. I am stumped...and would welcome your thoughts.
Please feel free to forward these to anyone who might be able to shed some
light on the ID of this bird.
Sincerely,
Greg Lasley
Secretary, Texas Bird Records Committee
(Visit the TBRC at http://members.tripod.com/~tbrc/)
Editor, Texas Region, ABA/Audubon Field Notes
305 Loganberry Ct., Austin, TX 78745-6527
Telephone: (512) 441-9686
fax: (512) 912-0129
Dear Greg,
Well, what an interesting bird!. The primary reference seems to be "Field
Identification of Pied, Collared and Semi-collared Flycatchers Part 1: males
in breeding plumage" by Krister Mild in Birding World Vol 7 Number 4.
There are subsequent parts which deal with adult females, then
imm./non-breeding birds.
The views are not good for sorting it out, but the first comment I have is
this: what is a Fidecula doing on its wintering grounds in October but
still in mostly breeding plumage??? This genus usually molts into winter
plumage (some shade of gray or brownish-gray) before its autumn migration,
so the state of plumage alone has me mystified - and may help an expert
identify it.
The next thing I feel I can do is tell you what it isn't. It is not
nominate Pied, or Collared. The apparent lack of white in the outer
retrices seems to eliminate Semi-collared - so what does that leave?
I feel it is either: one of the southern races of Pied (probably iberiae
rather than the North African speculigera because of the smaller white
primary-base patch); or a Pied x Collared hybrid of the "collared" type.
Basically the speculigera form of Pied actually looks like a Collared that
does not have a collar (and perhaps less black in the base of the greater
coverts). Sadly a somewhat stereotyped Pied x Collared hybrid (apparently
fairly common in Scandinavia) looks virtually identical to speculigera, the
only quoted difference being more black at the bases of the greater coverts
(often the outer one or two being mostly/all black).
Thus I cannot identify it from these pics, but I feel it is either Fidecula
hypoleuca iberiae (maybe speculigera), or a hybrid. I'll email Nick
Lethaby for his opinion, but if you can get hold of the author of the above
paper....
Dear Greg,
About the Flycatcher;
The three species of "Pied Flycatchers" can very difficult to identify!
But please send me the jpeg-files and I´ll see what we can do about them!
I´m used to Pied and Collared Flycatchers from Sweden and Semi-Collared
from Israel, so I might be able to help you. Otherwise I can send the files
to someone else....
Take care;
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 09:50:04 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Lasley <glasley@earthlink.net>
Sender: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification
<BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
From: Greg Lasley <glasley@earthlink.net>
Subject: [BIRDWG01] Help needed on African Flycatcher ID
To: BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Dear all,
This may not be the proper place to post this, but since I know
there are a number of European observers who are on this listserve, I'll
toss it out.
On 12 October 1998, I got two photos of what I believe to be a
Ficedula flycatcher (Pied, Collared, Semi-collared) in Windhoek, Namibia.
The bird was still mostly in alternate male plumage. The only photos I got
were from the rear. From my references, members of this genus molt into
basic plumage before heading to the wintering grounds, so the presence of
this bird in southern Africa in October in mostly alternate plumage is
strange to say the least. I do not know if the bird can be identified to
species from the photos I took, but I am willing to send the two jpeg
images to anyone who is interested in looking at them. I do not have a web
site to post these photos, but they may soon be posted on the South African
Birding website.
If you will respond to me privately I will be happy to send the
jpegs. Any help with the ID of this bird will be most appreciated as
whatever it is it will be a significant record for southern Africa. FYI, I
will not be at a computer between November 1-11.
Sincerely,
Greg Lasley
Hi Greg
Yes, the jpegs arrived safely and I put them out onto our birdnet. No
comments as yet. For my part;
1. We are not very familiar with the bird here either. Collared is very
rare, Pied or Semicollared are not even on our list!
2. Zimbabwe had a report of a Pied recently which was not accepted by South
Africa. No good reason I suspect.
3. The bird is apparently regular but scarce to West Africa, north of the
forests.
4. Semicollared is recorded from Kenya, but very scarce.
5. I noticed the bird had a paler patch on the back and paler outer tail
feathers.
Regards
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 16:29:27 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Lasley <glasley@earthlink.net>
Sender: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification
<BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
From: Greg Lasley <glasley@earthlink.net>
Subject: [BIRDWG01] More of African flycatcher
To: BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Hi All,
Earlier today I posted a note regarding a presumed Ficedula flycatcher
photographed in Namibia two weeks ago. For anyone who is interested, Mark
Wilson in the UK has kindly posted the two photos on a web site at:
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/aurora/ficedula/
(click on the small images to view them full size)
Any help on the ID (if possible) of this bird would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Greg Lasley
Greg,
Thanks for the photos. It is unusual for the bird to be in alternate plumage
at this time of year. The Pied, Semi-collared, Collared complex is a very
tricky one, compounded even further by hybridization. An excellent series of
papers on this trio appeared in Birding World, Vol 7 No 4, Vol 7 No 6 and Vol
7 no 8 with many photos. it makes you realise how tricky it can be.
So, my personal opinion is that based on the apparent lack of white in the
tail (?), the restricted collar and the indistinct grey tone to the upper
rump, I feel it is probably an adult male Pied (adult, since the remiges look
blackish and uniform with the tertials and coverts). Adults on passage in
Britain in September have already moulted into a female/imm type plumage, and look quite different from your bird.
Hope this little snippet is of use.
Hi, Greg. I have Birds of Africa, Vol. 5 (Urban, Fry & Keith) in hand. I am
confident the bird is a male Collared Flycatcher F. albicollis. It cannot be a
Pied because the bird has a white lower back and rump (visible in the photos
although shaded) and way too much of a collar. The wing pattern is pretty
close to that shown on Martin Woodcock's excellent plate (Plate 27).
The text cites one previous record for N Namibia (without more details).
This record should be reported to the "Recent Reports" column for the Bulletin
of the African Bird Club (an exceptionally fine magazine, by the way; I just
purchased all the back issues and just finished reading them today!), edited
by Ron Demey in the Netherlands whose email is
<106706.603@compuserve.com>
Cheers,
P.S.: Greg -- I forgot to mention that the extent of the white forecrown patch fits
the painting of Collared perfectly (both Pied & Semicollared are much
reduced), and I see an obvious collar in photo 1 (perhaps just molting in?).
As to the wings, I see white at the base of several primaries; again, good for
Collared, less so for the others.
Greg,
I managed to spend a little bit of time last night looking at your photos
of the ficedula. My instant reaction is that it certainly looks like a
ficedula, and most probably a Pied Flycatcher. I do not know whether there
are any other species on the African continent that could be confused with
the Pied type flycatchers, but assuming that there are not, then it is a
ficedula.
The anomaly for the plumage type does seem odd. I have never seen an adult
breeding plumaged male in the UK (or elsewhere in Europe) during the
autumn. However I understand that, according to BWP, they have been
recorded in Holland during mid September. Thus it would seem possible that
a "black" type bird could be recorded in October. However, I am certainly
no expert with regard to the moults of Pied/Collared/Semi-Collared
Flycatchers, but hopefully someone on the list may be able to help.
As for the specific identification, I believe that it is probably a Pied
Flycatcher. I believe that Collared can be ruled out by the lack of a
distinct collar. I detect a slight greying around the nape in the photo but
I put this down to photographic effect. Some Pied Flycatchers in Spain
(race iberiae) have been shown to have collars, but as far as I'm aware
Collared's don't lack collars. Pied Flycatchers also generally lack white
on the rump, which is a reasonably consistent feature of Collared's. I feel
that Semi-collared is unlikely, since there is no discernible white on the
greater primary coverts, and I cannot really see any suggestion of a white
semi-collar, though there is overlap between Semi-collared Fly and Pied Fly
with this feature.
I haven't had the time to go through the literature (incl. Birding World
paper) in detail and I have no personal experience of Semi-collared. In
addition there is the thorny issue of possible hybrids that could be
considered, and I'm not sure that a possible hybrid hybrid Collared/Pied
(which are relatively frequent) can be ruled out. Hopefully there may be
someone on the list who is able to comment more knowledgeably on these
issues.
I hope these comments have been of some use to you. If you get any other
replies suggesting other identifications or comments on the moult or hybrid
possibility then I'd be most interested in seeing them. As ever, such
photos provide an excellent opportunity and stimulus to learn more.
Regards
Greg,
Although I'm not an expert in this quite difficult group, I do have an
opinion about this bird. It looks to me like a adult male Pied
Flycatcher (F. hypoleuca). The reasons are as follows:
it's defiantly not a collared fly. These would, in this plumage, always
show an obvious broad, white neckcollar. There should also be a white
rumppatch. The wing would be much whiter with a broader wingstripe and
more white on tertials and wingcoverts.
Excluding semi-collared is more difficult. They usually show a more
extensive neckcollar which extends further around the neck. However, this
varies a lot.
Their wingbar would be quite broad but less obvious than in a collared.
And there should be a second white part on the wing. Lars Jonsson
illustrates this not completely as I've seen it in live birds (only 5
adult males so a quite small sample, but they all showed it different
then Lars draws it). These birds show a small but obvious upper wingbar
which is made up by white tips of the inner median coverts. In the field
they seem further separate then drawn in the guide.
This leaves me with pied. This is the one I see most and it sure
'feels'like one. The amount of white in the wing and it's shape look
fine, the whitish rump, the amount of white in it's neck they all seem
O.K. to me. The point you raise about the white patch about the bill is
easy. this patch varies a lot in size.
There have been a couple of excellent papers about this three species in
Birding World about 5 years ago. A similar article was published in
Limocola.
Hope this helps you a bit.
Dear Greg,
I have a particular interest in Ficedula flycatchers and would be happy to
look at them. You are correct in thinking that alternate plumage in October
is pretty odd. The id problem will be compounded by the possible presence of
Iberian Pied Flycatchers in SW Africa, which closely resemble Semi-collared.
Greg - I have no great expertise in Ficedula ID (have seen a number of
Pied in Finland, but not similar spp.), but for what it's worth... I see
this as a pretty standard Pied. The lack of a neck collar and the lack
(apparently) of any white on the median coverts seems to rule out Collared
& Semi-collared. The white on the forehead seems more than in Jonsson's
paintings, but this illustration of the patch is at the small end compared
to a few other photos and paintings I have at hand. I am pretty sure that
forehead patch size is variable in Pied Flys, and I could probably dig up a
reference for a study of female choice in this species showing that females
prefer larger patches. Plumage is quite variable in this species; males
(*usually* younger) often breed in brownish, female-like plumage.
Greg,
Thanks for forwarding the other comments. <name>'s comments are consistent
with much of my own thinking. I agree that the white does appear quite
extensive on the forehead, perhaps more than is typical than most Pied
Flys, but according to the Birding World paper there is some variation in
this feature with the largest amount of white shown by a Pied apparently
overlapping slightly with less well marked Collared. Included in the paper,
(BW Vol 7, No. 4 p 147) is a photograph of a male Pied Fly in Sweden, that
although not identical, appears very similar to those shown by your bird.
It may be an effect of the angle of the bird in this photograph, but is
seems to show a similar although probably a little less extensive, area of
white on the forehead. Of course, if this area of white is deemed to be too
extensive for Pied, the other features that suggestive of Pied, may mean
that there is some evidence suggestive of a hybrid origin.
With regard to <name> comments, I'm a little mystified by his
assertion that the photo shows "way too much of a collar". I noted some
slightly paler grey tones on the nape, but do not feel this can be regarded
as a collar. In addition as I stated in my previous mail, male Pied's can
sometimes show quite an extensive whitish collar. With regard to the rump,
Pied Flys often show a slightly paler grey tone on the rump, as noted by <name>.
Thanks again for allowing us to view these photos, it has been most
interesting delving into the literature.
Regards
Greg,
I've spent the past two years in Europe before moving back to USA in late August. Also have some birding
experience in Africa including Namibia. I have limited experience with the
Ficedula flycatchers and suspect your bird is pied flycatcher because:
1. Pied tends to have less white at base of primaries than semi-collared
flycatcher.
2. Pied can have even more extensive white on forehead than collared
flycatcher. This is especially true of Ficedula hypoleuca speculigra, the
subspecies most common in NW Africa. F. h. speculigra tends to have white
base to primaries but less so than collared or semi-collared.
3. The extent of white collar on bird in photo appears more consistent with
pied than semi-collared flycatcher.
4. Pied flycatcher's distribution is along western Africa though not as far
south as Namibia and South Africa, while semi-collared has a much more limited
distribution wintering in eastern Africa (Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania).
Pied would be more likely in Windhoek than semi-collared.
My vote is pied flycatcher. Probably F. h. speculigra, possibly F.h. iberiae.
Greg,
I assure you, I am no expert on the Ficedula flycatchers. But to me, the
bird in your photos seems to match many of the plumage characteristics of
the north west African subspecies of Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
speculigera. That is: the amount of white in the wings, just a little white
at the base of the primaries, a large white forehead patch.
Usually, the pied flycatchers moult their body feathers before they start
their autumn migration, and even the males should be mostly grey and brown
in October. At least this is so for Scandinavian hypoleuca. It is just
possible that this is not true for speculigera (my books tell me nothing),
so that even the state of body moult is indicative of that form.
Greg
Birding World Vol. 7 has an excellent series of articles on separation of
Pied, Collared and Semi-collared Flycatchers by Krister Mild and Hadoram
Shirihai. The Macmillan Birder's guide to European and Middle Eastern Birds
by Harris et al also has a section on these species.
This is a tough bird to identify. The top photograph shows a greyish band
across the nape, suggesting that a complete collar may appear later when
the neck feathers have worn a bit more - obviously a pro-Collared feature.
The lack of white in the tail also favours Collared. The large white
forehead patch also favours Collared. I can't see a thick white patch at
the base of the primaries, but the patch that is visible appears quite
long. There is also a hint of the greyish-white patch on the back apparent
on the 1st photograph that favour Collared. The second photograph
unfortunately shows no greyish collar or back patch and so suggest they are
photographic effect.
Having said all of this the speculigera race of Pied (found in North
Africa) has an all-black tail, extensive white forehead patch, and
greyish-white back patch, but no white collar.
Obviously this bird should not be in this plumage at this time of year and
so applying normal features to this bird is difficult. But I think it is
either Collared or 'speculigera' race of Pied. I favour the latter since
the bird appears to be in adult plumage and shows no sign of a collar.
Hope this helps
Greg,
This is an interesting bird, not least because it still appears to be in
breeding plumage.
It isn't really possible to see the median coverts clearly , although
'fly2.jpg' does perhaps suggest a slight, whitish median covert bar. In
spring, a male bird with this plumage, a white median cover bar and
prominent white edge to the tail would be a Semi-collared. Winter birds of
all species generally tend to show a median covert bar.
Your bird seems to have an all black tail, reasonably large white forehead
patch and very small, hardly noticeable white patch at the base of the
primaries (fly2). The pale patch on the rump is much paler than that
normally shown by Collared.
I think this may be a Pied Flycatcher of the race "iberiae", which breeds in
Spain. This race and "speculigera" (which breeds in North West Africa)
differ quite distinctly from the nominate race and tend to have characters
of both Collared and Semi-collared.
"Speculigera" is very similar to Collared (with similar size forehead patch
and all black tail) but lacks the white neck collar of that species.
"Iberiae" is like "speculigera" but has smaller white forehead and primary
patch. The problem with this bird is that it is difficult to make out much
of a primary patch.
Hybrid flycatchers are not unknown. "Pied type" tend to be black like
Collared, with a larger forehead and primary patch and you would normally
expect some white in the tail. I cannot detect any white in the tail in your
photos. "Collared type" tend to have a broken neck collar. I doubt that your
bird is a hybrid.
The other possibility is that this is a Semi-collared with negligible (or
even lacking median) covert bar, possibly second year male. The problem with
this though is that Semi-collared usually shows a lot of white in the tail.
Despite the anomalies and the identification complications that might arise
from delayed moult, I am still inclined to think this is most likely a Pied
but I am not sure that its identity can be conclusively proved from the
photos.
Pied and Collared winter in savannah forest in Central Africa south of the
Sahara. Semi-collared likewise but with a more easterly bias.
I hope my speculations and ramblings are of use. If anyone can offer a
positive I.D, perhaps you will post it on ID Frontiers?
One of these days I am hoping to get out to Texas, so I may bump into you;
you never know!
Greg
A very interesting problem that you present to us!
Let me suggest at the outset that you should discuss this with a
Swedish birder by the name of Krister Mild. The address that I have
for him (not too sure of it's currentness) is
Krister Mild, Kopparvgen 23, 175 72 Jrflla,SWEDEN Tel + 0758-55
685.
I would suggest that you forward a copy of the
prints/transparencies to him. While the scanned images are OK, the
true relevance of features will perhaps only be seen on the prints.
Krister is the recognised authority in Europe on the
Pied/Collared/Semi-Collared complex and wrote a comprehensive
assessment of the problems and specific identification of each in
Birding World in 1994. This consisted of three papers; part one in
BW7:4 covered males in breeding plumage, part two females and immatures
and part three covered non-breeding males - you should be able to get a
copy, if not I will copy it and sent it on - though you will not have
the benefit of the colour photos.
From what I can see on the two photos, this is an adult male. A non
adult would show clearer white tips to the tertials extending onto the
inner webs. The bird looks to still be in summer plumage - just why
this is so in the southern hemisphere in late October is another
question - from what I can see, all three winter in Africa south of
the Sahara but only Collared has been recorded in the area ??? It
would be wise to be cautious because any bird in an anomolous plumage
may well be infirmed and thus display features which suggest an
'incorrect' identification. Normally adults are 'female-like' by late
August. 'Winter' plumage of males is very similar to female - but this
would be readily obvious: the bird would essentially be brown not
black on the upperparts with only the central tail feathers, uppertail
coverts, remiges and perhaps some greater coverts blackish rather than
brown. Having said this, both shots show greater density of black on
the wings with suggestions of greyish on the rump, mantle and nape -
could this actually have been brownish? Its not easy to determine how
much this could be an effect of the transfer/scan.
I think that I can see the following features on the two photos
outer tail feathers edged whitish (photo2)
possible pale tips to outer few median coverts on left wing (photo2)
rather large forehead patch
and you say that there was white in the median wing coverts and
secondaries. Only Semi collared shows white in the MEDIANS as an
adult.
IF this is the case than these are important features. Making the
decision between the three species is another matter, for hybrids
between Collared and Pied cause quite a few problems and the Pied's
from Iberia and North Africa ('iberiae' and 'specigulera') are a
further complication as they closely resemble some Semi Collareds and
even some Collareds
All in all a real challange, sorry I can't really help but talk to
Krister Mild and I think he may shed further light on the subject
I would be interested in knowing how you get on....
Regards and good birding
Dear Greg,
I have looked at your Flycatcher and I found it to be rather tricky!
A bird (male) in breeding-plumage in October seems not normal! All Pied we
see in Sweden in October looks like females! They are supposed to moult
into breeding plumage in January, so this must simply be an early bird!
It looks like the bird is an adult male, at least I can´t see any
contrasting brownish primaries on the photos. But it´s diffucult to judge
from the photos, without seeing the bird "live" so I´m not sure.
There´re nothing that exclude a Pied Flycatcher! But the white patch on the
forehead is rather large, there´re much white in the wings and the bird
shows a greyish rump and traces of a collar, characters that are not normal
in Pied. BUT some Pied shows all these characters as well and the bird
doesn´t have any white primary-patch which is typical for the other two
species!
The North African Pied (speculigera) do have more white in the wings and a
larger white forehead + sometimes grey rump! But they are also supposed to
show a large primary-patch! If the bird is an adult, the primary-patch
should be obvious on Collared, Semi-collared and probably also speculigera.
There´re more overlaps on younger birds, though!
It looked like the bird have an all-black tail. That is typical for
Collared, and speculigera! But it´s very difficult to tell for sure on the
photos.
I´m quite sure it´s not a Collared (lack of white collar and white primary
patch). Hybrids between Collared and Pied are quite common in the
south-east parts of Sweden, and they can indeed look very strange! There
seems to be a median-covert bar visible on the photos (such as
Semi-collared shows), but again - difficult to judge on the screen! That
might indicate a Semi-collared, but they should show an obvious
primary-patch!
My best GUESS is an European Pied Flycatcher or the North African
subspecies of Pied Flycatcher, speculigera, but I´m not sure.
I have tried to reach Krister Mild (Sweden) which is THE EXPERT on
Flycatchers, but he doesn´t have any e-mail so I can´t send the photos to
him.
The problem is that according to "The Birds of Africa" none of the
Ficedula-flycatchers are supposed to occur in Namibia (apart from some
accidental Collared). This make the identification more critical and I do
not want to say anything for sure since I´m not absolutely 100% about the
identification. It might be a new species for Namibia!!!
If you want to continue, I recommend you to send your photos (or copies) to
Krister Mild.
Dear Greg
I have just recieved your email to the SA Birdnet and other birders
via my email in Namibia. I have been away in Australia and am
currently in the Netherlands hence the delay in replying. As a long
time birder in Namibia I am very interested in your record ( and the
fact that it would have got my Namibia list down to 16 needed makes me
ill - look what happens when you go away). Anyway - I have been
editing the local bird journal for a couple of years now and a lot of
people have passed information regarding sightings to me over a period
of time. At present we do not have a system of rarities recording but
I have verbal and written records (as far as I can remember -
everything is in Namibia) of Collared Flycatchers in Namibia going
back about 8 years. There has been at least one sighting per year -
as far as I can remember the last wet season (97/98)was the best year
with about 4 observers reporting birds. However, all the records are
from the broadleafed woodlands of the Kavango Caprivi area in the
northeast. There is one historical record from Grootfontein which was
rejected by the Atlas Committee - I cant remember the reasons, but
could ask one of the members. Anyway your record is very interesting
and I would like to publish it in our short notes section or
alternatively you could write it up as a note for Lanioturdus (the
local bird rag). Send any submission to me at this address or to
carole@dea.met.gov.na and we will publish it in the next edition
(closing date end November).I will show the photos of the birds to
local birders here in Holland and see what they reckon.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Hi Greg
Here is a comment by Peter Ryan at the Fitzpatrick Institute in Cape Town. On the Pied/Collared Flycatcher story, Christer Emberg who did his PhD on
these species in Sweden, Finland and the UK is visiting the Fitz at the
moment and he is pretty sure it is a hybrid Collared-Pied, which run at
about 5% of males in the population around Uppsala.
In late December, 1998, I sent all the above material with slides to Mr. Krister Mild in Sweden who wrote several detailed articles regarding the identification of this genus in Birding World in 1994. Mr. Mild was kind enough to write a detailed response which I have added below with his permission.
Jarfalla, Sweden 3 February 1999
Dear Greg,
Your Ficedula from Namibia in October, 1998 is mysterious and exciting. Here we actually face a true mystery, since the bird is in breeding plumage in October. All Ficedula flycatchers moult before they depart for Africa, usually on their breeding grounds in early Autumn (usually July to August) but there are a few cases where e.g. Pied and Semi-collared have migrated a short distance before starting the moult, but usually no further than 100-300 km (and these are often failed breeders). However, there are no single records known to me (or in the literature) of a Ficedula flycatcher reaching the African wintering grounds in full breeding plumage (the black-and-white breeding plumage of the males are always replaced by a duller one with brownish-greyish upperparts = more female-like). Thus, why does a male Ficedula show breeding plumage in Africa in October? Well, I don't know! However, I do have a suggestion which I assume is as good as any other guess. There is a record of a White Wagtail in northern Australia which "over summered" two or perhaps even three years in the same location. The interesting thing about that particular bird was that it moulted into breeding plumage the following winters and into winter plumage during the summers (probably in an attempt to follow the "reversed" seasons in the southern hemisphere). Thus I think this might be a "mixed-up" individual which reached southern Africa the previous Autumn (12 October seems to be a bit early for a vagrant arriving to southern Africa the same autumn) and which has responded to the "twisted" seasons of the southern hemisphere by moulting into (or keeping the) breeding plumage.
If the strange date, location, and "reversed" anomalous plumage are difficult questions to answer, let's face an even tricker question...the specific identity of the bird. The flycatcher is a male in breeding plumage. The blackish upperparts and head, pure white underparts, large amount of white on the tertials and greater coverts, and large white forehead patch all rule out any plumage and sex other than a male in breeding plumage.
A safe ageing of this particular individual would require an extremely detailed written description, and/or good side-view photos of the bird. Since neither of these criteria are met, my own opinion will only be an advanced but tentative guess. Moreover, a correct ageing is perhaps possible only in the hand, since, in the light of the anomalous plumage sequence this male may of course show an aberrant moult pattern which may suggest an "incorrect" age. Judging from the photos only, the bird appears to show characters of a "first-summer" male in breeding plumage. The primaries appear slightly paler (browner?) than the rest of the wing and upperparts, but this is, of course, extremely difficult to be absolutely sure about in photos like these. In my opinion, there is no visible white primary patch on either of the two photos (all I see is white on the tertials and the greater coverts!), and neither you nor Mr. Emanuel mention any such white patch in your descriptions. A lack of the white primary patch in breeding plumage is only shown by first-summer males (and only by rather many nominate Pieds, some iberiae and speculigera Pieds, occasional Semi-collareds, but in my opinion never in Collareds). There are, however, on the left side on the bird with the head facing left, some paler reflections in the region where a white patch on the bases of the primaries should be. Only you or Mr. Emanuel could bring any further light into this question. The upperparts are not evenly blackish, but appear to show diffusely blackish-grey or blackish-brown areas (appearing slightly greyer in the photos). The less pure black areas on the upperparts are typical for many breeding male nominate Pieds of any age, many first-summer Pieds of the ssp. iberiae and speculigera, some first-summer Semi-collareds and some first-summer Collareds.
Before analyzing the specific affinities, I will note which characters I can see (and which I cannot)!
* As mentioned above, I cannot detect any white patch on the bases of the folded primaries (should have been located outside the tips of the primary coverts). The primary coverts are visible (in the photo where the bill is not shown) but there is no white patch. See above for discussion of the pale reflections on the other photo.
* I cannot detect any white neck-collar. I judge the greyish suggestion of a faint collar as merely a photographic effect (and neither shown on the second photo nor observed by you in the field.
* There is a suggestion of a slightly paler rump patch, diffusely greyish, matching the breeding males of all taxa, although the majority of adult Collared, and speculigera and iberiae Pieds have larger and purer white rump patches.
* The white forehead patch is rather large, but fits breeding males of all taxa, also including "well-developed" patches in nominate Pied and Semi-collared.
* At least the outer-most tail feather shows some buffish-white along the outer web all the way down to the tip.
* I can not safely detect any white tips to the median coverts (as shown by Semi-collared Flycatchers). There is a white dot on the left side of the bird that faces left that might be a white tip to one of the median coverts, but it could also be just a light reflection. You mention that the white of the folded wing "extended down secondaries and on to median wing coverts". The white on the folded wing actually occurs on the tertials and on the greater coverts, but this is extremely difficult to judge in the field. There is also white on the bases of all secondaries but in the folded wing that white is largely covered by the greater coverts. Am I right in assuming that you actually meant the tertials and the greater coverts, or did it have white on the median coverts (like in Semi-collared; often forming a separate white upper wing-bar)? See illustration in Birding World vol. 7 (April 1994): page 145.
Consequently, only male Collared (of any age), hybrid Collared X Pied of the "Collared type" and the less common "collared" variation of Pied ssp. iberiae and speculigera could be safely ruled out by the lack of any visible white collar. Also, an adult male speculigera could be safely ruled out since it should show evenly jet-black upperparts, all black tail, and a very large white primary patch. Similarly, adult male Semi-collared and iberiae Pieds could be excluded, as they should show more evenly jet-black upperparts and a larger primary patch. Thus, the bird is either a Pied Flycatcher F. hypoleuca of ssp. hypoleuca (of any age), first summer iberiae or speculigera; first summer Semi-collared F. semitorquata, or a hybrid Collared X Pied of the "Pied type".
Unfortunately, it is not possible to clinch the identification with the help of the submitted data, if you want to play it safe. It is a pity you were not able to get a good side-view shot of the bird...that would have helped immensely! Similarly, more detailed field notes would have been a good help as well. Moreover, since this bird showed an anomalous plumage, an extremely cautious approach must be adopted. Perhaps the ID of such an individual could only be clinched in the hand by the help of both morphology and measurements.
As a member of the rarities committee of the Swedish Society for Ornithology, I think this bird should be accepted as Ficedula sp., being either a F. hypoleuca or a F. semitorquata, although the caveat that a hybrid origin (F. albicollis X F. hypoleuca) cannot be entirely ruled out.
Do not hesitate to write again if there is something you would like to discuss.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Krister Mild
