Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Roger,

I was in Hudson, Massachusetts this weekend and spied this little guy up in a tree.  I was pretty certain it was a warbler of some sort, but I've been up and down WhatBird.com and cannot seem to find it.  Can you tell me at least what family I should be looking in?

Thanks much!

Warm regards,

Bill

ANSWER: Well, I can't tell you exactly what it is because the photo doesn't give me everything I need to confirm an identification, but it appears to me to be a flycatcher (Family Tyrannidae). The shape of the bill, the wingbars, the posture, the length of the tail and the slightly raised crest lead me to think that way. I suspect it might be a Willow Flycatcher which in the first winter plumage has a brownish olive color to it. I wouldn't bet my bank account on it, but I think I'm at least in the ballpark.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One last thing, Roger.

As an amateur photographer, I'd be interested in knowing what a typical photo of a bird should have in order to be able to confirm an identification?  I tend to have some trouble with getting particular shots, as birds don't always co-operate.  :-D

Many thanks again!

Warm regards,

Bill

Answer
Well, it's hard to say. Sort of like "what do you need to see on a car to tell what make and model it is?" Different characteristics work with different kinds of birds. For a hawk, tail markings are often helpful. For a duck, wing and chest markings. For a shorebird, bill length and shape is important, for a warbler, the color pattern. I'd say that frontal or partial frontal views are best in general. I've dabbled with bird photography in the past and found it very difficult to get good photos. The vast majority of those on the web are not all that good either. There are some bird photo sites on the web that are good. I'll send you a list later as I need to go now.

ADDENDUM: Bill - if you go to my website at http://www.ornithology.com/photo.html you will find a lot of sites on bird photography.