This afternoon (Saturday Dec. 8), Al Freeman took a series of stunning photos of an interesting flycatcher at Sandusky, Ohio. Superficially the bird suggested a Western Kingbird (and it might be one), but a number of things about it looked a little off. Currently, on the Birding Ohio page on Facebook, there is an ongoing discussion of the possibility that the bird may be a hybrid. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher X Western Kingbird is one well-known hybrid combination, but the outside possibility of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher X Couch's Kingbird also has been suggested.


Al Freeman found the bird at the edge of the Sandusky water treatment plant, on E. First Street between the Cedar Point causeway and Pipe Creek Wildlife Area. It was still there when he left around 4 pm today. His striking photos can be seen on the Facebook page mentioned above.


Kenn Kaufman
Oak Harbor, Ohio




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