Photo Quiz, sort of: April 2015 Birding

First things first. The April 2015 Birding has gone to press, and members will be getting their copies very soon. ID articles in the April issue focus on Passerina buntings and Empidonax flycatchers. There’s also a commentary by Pete Dunne on the “Cape May School” of Bird ID.

And this bird:

Too easy, you say? Now hang on a second… What sex is this bird? And how old is it? This bird’s age and sex are easily told from this image–and in so many field situations. But how often do we bother to notice those things?

And another question: If this were real life, would we even bother to try to ID this bird? Or would we wait till it landed? (Or, if it never landed, just leave it unidentified?)

Let’s discuss the following:

1. Male or female?

2. How old?

3. What’s your theory about why we so often pass on trying to ID birds in flight?

4. This is a Stripe-chested Antwren, right?