Gray-collared Becard in AZ - 1st for US

[AndyB]

At 11am on June 5 Jillian Johnston, Anne Pellegrini, and Ryan Davis found a female GRAY-COLLARED BECARD at the South Fork Zoological and Botanical Area, which is close to the Southwestern Research Station (Portal area in the Chiricahuas). P.D. Hulce, Chris West, and Bob Weaver soon relocated the bird and took numerous photographs. P.D. reported that the bird appears to be a member of the western subspecies uropygialis. This is believed to be a U.S. first. Location: the bird was found on the first two miles of the gravel road which goes into South Fork. The bird was located at the one mile mark by the bridge.

Photos here: http://community.webshots.com/album/572865969AtXaSw

and an account here (http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com/2009/06/gray-collared-becard.html)

some comments on the blog refer to the heavily worn tail and primaries...

[MichaelF]

Just hope some b*stard doesn't go and shoot it to "prove" the record . . .

[birdingcraft]

At 11am on June 5 Jillian Johnston, Anne Pellegrini, and Ryan Davis found a female GRAY-COLLARED BECARD at the South Fork Zoological and Botanical Area, which is close to the Southwestern Research Station (Portal area in the Chiricahuas). P.D. Hulce, Chris West, and Bob Weaver soon relocated the bird and took numerous photographs. P.D. reported that the bird appears to be a member of the western subspecies uropygialis. This is believed to be a U.S. first. Location: the bird was found on the first two miles of the gravel road which goes into South Fork. The bird was located at the one mile mark by the bridge.

Photos here: http://community.webshots.com/album/572865969AtXaSw

and an account here (http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com/2009/06/gray-collared-becard.html)

some comments on the blog refer to the heavily worn tail and primaries...

Great record!!

[AndyB]

terrific shots added by Jillian Johnston here (scroll all the way down):
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/html2/OTHE_Becard_West_20090605.html

while you're at the azfo webpage, you might want to also look at some nice Elegant Tern photos here:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/html2/ELTE_TucsonPk_Deviche_20090607.html
a very rare vagrant in AZ

[AndyB]

On the NARBA website:

On Jun 12 Bruce and Barbara Kiester refound the bird at Sunny Flat
Campground, near campsites 2 and 3. Sunny Flat is just west of the entrance
to South Fork. The park host also saw the bird. They first felt it was a
male, however after being shown the Howell field guide, they confirmed it to
be a female.

First bird was considered to be a male. Highly unlikely but I suppose you can't rule out 2 birds now?!