About the Western Flycatcher
The western flycatcher is a small insectivorous bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is native to western North America, where it breeds in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast forests and mountain ranges from California to Alaska and south to central Mexico; northern populations migrate south to Mexico for the winter.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults have olive-gray upperparts, darker on the wings and tail, with yellowish underparts; they have a conspicuous teardrop-shaped white eye ring, white wing bars, a small bill and a short tail. It differs only subtly from most Empidonax flycatchers in North America, but its breeding habitat and call are different. Many species of this genus look closely alike. The best ways to distinguish species are by voice, by breeding habitat, and by range.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Western Flycatcher sounds like
Where the Western Flycatcher lives
When to see the Western Flycatcher
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiAdults have brown-olive upperparts, darker on the wings and tail, with whitish underparts; they have an indistinct white eye ring, white wing bars and a small bill.
Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescensAdults have olive upperparts, darker on the wings and tail, with whitish underparts; they have a white eye ring, white wing bars and a wide bill.
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusThe least flycatcher is hard to distinguish from the other birds of its genus.
Side by side: Least Flycatcher vs Western Flycatcher · Vermilion Flycatcher vs Western Flycatcher · Western Flycatcher vs Willow Flycatcher · Acadian Flycatcher vs Western Flycatcher
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