Genus: Empidonax
Description
Small drab flycatchers with wing bars and eye rings.
Taxonomy
Empidonax is a genus in the family Tyrannidae.
Identification
This is notoriously difficult: for most species it's best done by call. However, Dr Cin-Ty Lee and Andy Birch provide characteristics which in combination can identify many individuals (summarised and expanded below).
| species | overall | crown | forehead | eye-ring | bill | lower mandible | throat and undersides | wingbars | wing panel contrast | primary extension | tail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-throated Flycatcher | tawny brown | round | shallow | indistinct, but thin crisp | medium | variable | more or less contrasting whitish throat which may extend back under auriculars | variable: brown | no: pale (brown) tertial fringes | short | medium: pane outer vanes |
| Willow Flycatcher | tawny brown (often browner than Alder) | peaked | shallow | indistinct or no | medium to large | orange | medium contrast throat | dull | no | medium | short, fat |
| Alder Flycatcher | dull tawny brown | rounded | shallow to medium | indistinct, but thin crisp | medium to large | pale | medium contrast throat | medium to bright | strong | medium | short, fat |
| Acadian Flycatcher | greenish-brown | peaked | shallow | crisp; not white | large | orange: tip may be dusky | white contrasting throat, undersides | bold | yes | long | medium, fat |
| Yellowish Flycatcher | tawny yellow | crested | shallow | distinct, tear-dropped, yellowish | medium to large | orange | medium contrast white or yellow throat | dull | no: all flight feathers have brownish fringes | medium | short: yellowish outer vanes |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | dull greenish yellow | round | steep | crisp; lemon | small to medium | orange | low contrast yellow throat and undersides | bold | yes | long | short, narrow |
| Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher | greeny yellowish | crested | medium | distinct, tear-dropped; lemon | medium | orange | low contrast throat. Overall yellow coloration above and below | strong | no: tertial fringes may be obvious | medium | medium, narrow |
| Gray Flycatcher | greyish, or brownish-grey | flat | shallow | messy | large | orange; can have dark tip | low contrast pale grey throat and undersides | dull | no | short | long, narrow, droops slowly downward; white outer feathers |
| Pine Flycatcher | greyish: mantle rarely brownish | crested | medium | distinct, tear-dropped, white | medium to large | bright orange | low contrast whitish or greyish throat with similarly coloured chest and belly. Whitish vent | medium | no: tertials may lack pale fringes | medium to long | medium, widens from narrow base; white outer vanes |
| Dusky Flycatcher | greyish: mantle sometimes greeny-brownish | round to flat | medium | indistinct and messy; off-white | small to medium | dark | low contrast pale grey throat and chest | dull | no | short | medium, narrow |
| Hammond's Flycatcher | greyish: mantle sometimes greeny-brownish | rounded to peaked | very steep | bold messy: whitish | small | dark (mostly) | low contrast grey throat, chest | medium | no | long | short, narrow |
| Least Flycatcher | greyish: mantle generally brownish | round | medium | bold but messy; white | small | partial | white contrasting throat, chest, belly | bold | yes | short to medium | short, narrow |
(Primary sources: [1] , Ebird/Macauley images)
Other species are usually distinctive. Buff-breasted Flycatcher has ochre-buff face and breast. Black-capped Flycatcher has a black cap (sometimes blackish face)
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| E. flaviventris | Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | ||
| E. virescens | Acadian Flycatcher | ||
| E. alnorum | Alder Flycatcher | ||
| E. traillii | Willow Flycatcher | ||
| E. albigularis | White-throated Flycatcher | ||
| E. minimus | Least Flycatcher | ||
| E. hammondii | Hammond's Flycatcher | ||
| E. wrightii | Gray Flycatcher | ||
| E. oberholseri | Dusky Flycatcher | ||
| E. affinis | Pine Flycatcher | ||
| E. difficilis | Western Flycatcher | ||
| E. flavescens | Yellowish Flycatcher | ||
| E. fulvifrons | Buff-breasted Flycatcher | ||
| E. atriceps | Black-capped Flycatcher | ||
Pages in category ‘Empidonax’
The following 14 pages are in this category, out of 14 total.
