Bird Guide

Brown-crested Flycatcher vs Pale-edged Flycatcher

Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Small35 gWoodland

The brown-crested flycatcher is 18 to 23 cm (7.1 to 9.1 in) long, with a general trend of larger to smaller from north to south. Subspecies M. t. magister is the largest taxon within the entire genus Myiarchus, weighing 36 to 54 g (1.3 to 1.9 oz). The other subspecies weigh 21 to 45 g (0.74 to 1.6 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the subspecies M. t. magister and M. t. cooperi have a grayish brown crown whose feathers have darker shafts and form a bushy crest. Their upperparts are mostly light brownish gray to dark olive gray with often a rufous tinge on the uppertail coverts. Voice: The brown-crested flycatcher's dawn song varies somewhat among the subspecies but overall is "alternated renditions of isolated huits and complex phrases that are typically derived from combination of a whay-burg note with brief series of rapid huits".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Brown-crested Flycatcher
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz · Uncertain · Cúa (near La Magdalena), Urdaneta, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Fernando Sessegolo · CC0
Pale-edged Flycatcher (Myiarchus cephalotes)

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Small26 gForest

The pale-edged flycatcher is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long and weighs about 22 to 31 g (0.78 to 1.1 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a brownish olive crown; the crown has a slight crest and slightly darker center feathers that give a streaked appearance. Their face is otherwise pale gray. Their upperparts are olive-green. Their wings are mostly brownish olive with pale whitish to yellow outer edges on the secondaries and tertials. The wing's greater and median coverts have yellowish outer edges and tips; the latter show as two wing bars. Voice: The pale-edged flycatcher's dawn song is described as "a mellow, descending series of whistles: PEE pew-pew-pew-pew" and its calls as "a single, loud KIP!...a quiet, descending du-HEER mellow, rolling chatters". Another description of the song is "a fast piyp! peeyur followed by several peer notes" and a call as "a loud, clear pip or piup repeated over and over".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Pale-edged Flycatcher
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · San Antonio De Los Altos (near Parroquia Macarao), Municipio Los Salias, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Don Henise · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brown-crested Flycatcher and Pale-edged Flycatcher.