Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.75 inches

• small flycatcher

• Triangular head

• White eye ring

• Lower mandible orange

• Brownish-olive upperparts

• Breast has olive wash

• Whitish throat, belly and undertail coverts

• Sometimes has yellowish wash to underparts

• Wing bars-white in adults, buffy in immatures

• Often found in woodlands near water-along rivers, in swamps, et. al.

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. A combination of features is helpful for
identifying this species: size-it is larger than yellow-bellied and least,
color-it has greener upperparts and yellower underparts than all but
the yellow-bellied. The yellow-bellied flycatcher is usually more yellow
underneath-especially on the throat, is smaller and more active, and has
a smaller bill. Alder and Willow are browner above and whiter below
with less obvious eye rings. Least is smaller, grayer above and whiter
below and has a smaller bill. Empidonax flycatchers from the western
United States have darker lower mandibles, and whiter underparts
(gray and dusky), darker breasts (Hammond's), or oval eye rings
(Pacific Slope and Cordilleran) as well as different ranges. Pewees are
larger, browner above, whiter below and have indistinct eye rings.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: Mid-story/canopy nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 2-4
Length of Incubation: 14(13-15) days
Days to Fledge: 13-15
Number of Broods: 2
Diet: Almost exclusively insects; lesser quantities of fruit

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species