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Willow
Flycatcher Identification Tips |
(Credit:
U. S. Geological Survey) |
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General
Information
- Small flycatcher
- Triangular head
- Indistinct eye ring
- Lower mandible orange
- Brownish-olive upperparts
- Breast has olive wash
- Whitish throat, belly and undertail coverts
- Wing bars
- Formerly conspecific with Alder Flycatcher and called
Traill's Flycatcher
- Breeding habitat is scrubby areas-for example: bogs,
abandoned fields
Similar species
The empidonax flycatchers are very difficult to tell apart. The safest
way to differentiate them is by habitat, range, and voice in the breeding
season. Differences in plumage due to molt, wear and age make the
plumage quite variable.
This species is extremely similar to the Alder
flycatcher and was once considered the same species. It often
has a less noticeable eye ring and browner, less olive, upperparts;
however, most individuals cannot be identified with certainty by sight.
Acadian and Yellow-bellied
flycatchers tend to be greener above and yellower below than the
Willow Flycatcher. Least Flycatcher
is grayer above, smaller, shorter-tailed and has a more distinct eye
ring.
Western United States empidonax flycatchers have darker lower mandibles
and more obvious eye rings. Gray is grayer above and rangier. Hammond's
is smaller, darker-chested and has a grayer throat. Pewees are quite
similar but are larger, have different vocalizations and typically
forage higher in the canopy. |
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