Is this a Collared or a Pied Flycatcher? [¿Es esto un papamoscas collarino o un cerrojillo?]


© Juan Antonio Pulido

On 3.12.2010 a 1w Flycatcher was was seen at Pedroñeras, Cuenca (Juan Antonio Pulido). Photos were sent to Rafa Torralba and from him to Rarebirdspain.

The bird looked like a 1w because of moult of greater coverts. Characters pointing to Collared Flycatcher are the rather grey overall tone, the long primary projection, the rather pale collar, the white on the basis of primaries and the extent of white in the outermost tail feather.



© Juan Antonio Pulido


However, some authors think it may be a difficult bird and Sergi Sales has pointed towards a photo collage published in May 2008 Rarebirdspain page showing some variation in both Collared and Pied Flycatchers.


© Álvaro Díaz 4.5.2008

The question is that the Cuenca bird, despite having long wings, has a rather small white patch in primaries, it looks greyer or no depending on the author (and computer?) and some inner primaries of the Cuenca bird may reflect a plumage aberration. Any opinions? In any case a Flycatcher in December is always, and regardless which is, interesting.


Resumen. ¿Es esto un papamoscas collarino o un cerrojillo? El
3.12.2010 se observó un Papamoscas de 1r invierno en Pedroñeras, Cuenca (Juan Antonio Pulido) cuyas 2 fotos llegaron a Rarebirdspain via Rafa Torralba. El ave era un 1r invierno a causa de la muda de cobertoras. Presentaba carácteres que apuntaban a collaris como son el tono gris general, la proyección primaria larga, el collar pálido bastante definido, el blanco de la base de primarias y la extensión de blanco en las rectrices externas.Sin embargo viendo informaciones anteriores como el foto-collage que se adjunta aparecen dudas como si el panel blanco del ala es suficientemente pequeño o grande para ser collaris, y más bien parece hypoleuca, aunque tiene alas muy largas y cierto collar blanco. Un ave no clara.

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