Empidonax Flycatchers

Last updated 4/13/96

Four of this difficult group of birds are common migrants on the UTC - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, and Least Flycatcher. A fifth species (Acadian Flycatcher) nests in the forests of East Texas and the UTC.

These flycatchers are a difficult bunch to identify. They are all similar gray birds with green, yellow, and brown tints, eye-rings, and wingbars. They each have a unique call, but migrating birds rarely vocalize. Refer to Ken Kaufman's Advanced Birding for an excellent work on this genus.

Without some kind of vocalization definite identification may be impossible. Kaufman does list some things to look for that will help; shape and pattern of the bill from below and color of the throat. Kaufman also lists some features that aren't much help; yellow belly, pale lores, and wing and tail action.

All five common Emipdonax Flycatchers on the UTC can be found in the same migrant traps that warblers are found in: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, High Island Bird Sanctuary, Sabine Woods, and Smith Point and the Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area. A good spot for breeding Acadian Flycatchers is Jones State Forest.

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