Arizona Flycatchers Flashcards
Thick-billed Kingbird TBKI
Large kingbird with huge bill. Rather dark grayish-brown above with white throat and pale yellow wash on belly. Overall color and bill size make this kingbird unlikely to be mistaken. Most common in riparian woodlands with cottonwood trees; often perches up conspicuously. Also occurs in other wooded habitats like thorn forest and oak scrub. Gives some squeaky calls and twitters.
Greater Pewee GRPE
Large, drab flycatcher with spiky crest. Few defining plumage marks; overall brownish-gray with slightly paler belly and faint wingbars. Bill is long with orange lower mandible. Similar to Olive-sided Flycatcher but drabber without contrasting vest. Separated from wood-pewees by crest and longer bill. Native to Mexico and northern Central America; found in mountainous forests, usually with conifers. Limited range in U.S. Often perches conspicuously and sings its clear whistled “Jose Maria” song.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher YBFL
Small flycatcher, extremely similar to several other species. Generally shy and inconspicuous; breeds in spruce forests often near boggy areas. Migrants tend to be found in denser wet areas within woods. Olive-greenish above with distinctive yellow wash on throat and belly. Black wings with bold white wingbars. Nearly identical to Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatchers, but no range overlap. Within range, main confusion species is Least Flycatcher. Bright yellow throat and belly is usually enough to identify Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, but some worn birds can be very similar. Song is similar to Least Flycatcher (“chebek”) but more slurred, with a soft buzzy tone. Not frequently repeated like Least Flycatcher. Soft whistled call note, “pwee,” unlike Least’s sharp “whit” call.
Cassin’s Kingbird
Fairly large yellow-bellied flycatcher of the southwest U.S. and western Mexico. Dark gray head contrasts with white mustache. Also note blackish tail with white tip (but this can be difficult to see, especially when worn). Found in open, arid habitats with tall shrubs and trees, sometimes venturing up into clearings and meadows in mountains. Most similar to Western Kingbird, which is paler and less contrasting on the head. Listen for burry “ch-breer” calls.
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Fairly large flycatcher with large hooked bill. Brownish with paler gray throat, pale yellow belly, and rufous edges on flight feathers and tail. Similar to Ash-throated Flycatcher but has larger bill and different voice. Appears more washed out than Great Crested Flycatcher.
*Hammond’s Flycatcher HAFL
Small grayish flycatcher, very similar to other flycatchers, especially Dusky and Gray. Subtle differences include smaller bill with limited pale base, slightly more peaked crown, and longer wingtips. Also note habitat during breeding season: Hammond’s prefers mature conifers, often seen higher up in trees than Dusky. Habitat overlaps more with other flycatchers during migration and winter; found in a variety of brushy wooded habitats. Back is greenish with a yellow wash to belly; fall birds in fresh plumage are brighter than spring and summer birds. Voice is key to identification, especially call notes: high-pitched “peek” and whistled “peer.” Without an excellent view, silent birds often best left unidentified.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher PSFL
Small, yellow-olive flycatcher. Brighter yellow than most other Empidonax flycatchers. Look for bold teardrop-shaped eyering that comes to a point behind the eye, and fluffy, peaked crown. Breeds in coniferous and mixed woodlands, often near water; migrants and wintering birds can be found in a variety of wooded or scrubby habitats. Essentially identical to Cordilleran Flycatcher with very subtle vocal differences; identification is usually presumed based on range.
Cordilleran Flycatcher
ter yellow than most other Empidonax flycatchers. Look for bold teardrop-shaped eyering that comes to a point behind the eye, and fluffy, peaked crown. Breeds in coniferous forests, often near water; migrants and wintering birds can be found in other wooded or scrubby habitats, but typically stay at relatively high elevations. Essentially identical to Pacific-slope Flycatcher with very subtle vocal differences; identification is usually presumed based on range.
Couch’s Kingbird
Large yellow-bellied flycatcher with gray head, dull greenish back, and brownish wings and tail. Primarily a Mexican species, with range extending north into Texas and south to Belize and Guatemala. Occurs in brushy woodlands and other semiopen habitats, often near water. Listen for single “pick” or buzzy “breer” calls. Nearly identical to Tropical Kingbird, which overlaps throughout range; best separated by voice. Larger and longer-billed than Western and Cassin’s Kingbird; also note paler brownish tail.
Dusky Flycatcher
Dull grayish flycatcher, very similar to other flycatchers, especially Hammond’s and Gray. Generally grayish with green-tinged back and pale yellow wash on belly. Wingtips shorter than Hammond’s Flycatcher and typically found in brushier, more open habitats such as forest edge, but not as open and sparse as Gray Flycatcher. Listen for classic “bean-dip” call as well as dry “whit” note, similar to Gray but noticeably different from Hammond’s. Without an excellent view, silent birds often best left unidentified.
Tufted Flycatcher TUFL
Conspicuous, small crested flycatcher of highlands and foothills. Attractive cinnamon underparts, obvious tufted crest, and behavior are distinctive. Occurs in woodlands, forests, and plantations; also ranges into semiopen areas with trees and bushes, mainly in winter. Typically perches conspicuously at middle to upper levels and makes fluttering sallies for insects, often returns to the same perch again and again. Listen for a cheery, doubled “chewee-chewee.”
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Tiny, bright buffy flycatcher with short bill and tail. Orange wash on breast is distinctive, but worn birds in late summer are paler. Also compare with Tufted Flycatcher, but note Buff-breasted is smaller, more compact, and lacks a crest. Found in open mountainous pine forests from southern Arizona to extreme western Nicaragua. Typically uncommon, seen singly or in pairs.
Tropical Kingbird TRKI
Large, ubiquitous yellow-bellied flycatcher found throughout most of Middle and South America, though tends to be uncommon at the far northern end of its range in the U.S. A classic “telephone wire” bird along roadsides and in towns. Prefers open areas with some trees and water. Most abundant in lowlands and foothills, but ventures up to over 3,000m in some parts of range. Listen for sharp, high-pitched twitters. Nearly identical to Couch’s Kingbird, which overlaps from Texas to Belize; best separated by voice. Larger and longer-billed than Western and Cassin’s Kingbird; also note paler brownish tail.
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet NOBT
Tiny flycatcher found in Mexico and Central America. In the U.S. restricted to riparian woodland with dense understory and mesquite in the Southwest. Plain gray overall with inconspicuous pale wingbars and pale yellowish belly. Peaked bushy crown. Similar to Empidonax flycatchers but note bushy crest, blunter bill, and less obvious wingbars. Generally quite active. Often detected by song: a series of descending plaintive whistles “dee dee dee dee.”
Gray Flycatcher GRFL
Drab, pale-gray flycatcher with little plumage contrast; very similar to other flycatchers, especially Dusky and Hammond’s. Often best identified by unique habit of wagging tail downward. Breeding habitat also distinctive: lower, more open habitat than other flycatchers, usually in sagebrush or open juniper forest. In migration and winter, habitat overlaps more with other flycatchers, but still tends to prefer more open areas. Other subtle differences in appearance include shorter wingtips, longer bill, and paler plumage. Song includes hoarse “chivik” phrase and higher, clearer “pseeoo.” Call similar to Dusky. Without an excellent view, sometimes best left unidentified.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Medium-sized flycatcher; rather small and slender for a Myiarchus. Extremely similar to other Myiarchus flycatchers and most easily identified by voice: listen for the plaintive, sad “wheer” call. Also note relatively dark crown, slender bill, fairly bright yellow belly, and rufous edges on secondaries. Some variation across range, but underside of tail usually quite dark, with little or no rufous. Widespread and common in Middle and South America, barely extending into the southwest U.S. Occurs in a variety of forested and semiopen habitats including oak-lined canyons, humid rainforest edges, and gardens.
Olive-sided Flycatcher OSFL
Stocky flycatcher that almost always perches conspicuously on a high bare perch with an upright posture. From the front, look for dark sides creating a vest, with a bright white stripe from throat to belly. White patches on the sides of rump are sometimes visible from behind. Most similar to pewees but larger and larger-billed, with more contrasting vest. Feeds on insects. Breeds in clearings and bogs in boreal or mountainous forests, but can be found in migration in open habitats with a mixture of woods and clearings. Distinctive whistled song is often likened to “quick, three beers;” also listen for “pip” call notes.
Western Wood-Pewee WEWP
Drab grayish-brown flycatcher found in deciduous and mixed forests and edges. Nondescript overall with two pale wingbars; bill is usually mostly dark with only limited orange at the base. Note very long wings and larger size than Empidonax flycatchers. Typically seen on a high perch, occasionally sallying out to snatch an insect. Essentially identical to Eastern Wood-Pewee; averages darker overall with weaker upper wingbar, but reliably distinguished only by voice. Listen for buzzy tones, especially the “BREeerr” song.
