Arizona is home to a diverse range of flycatcher species that can be found across the state. Flycatchers are small passerine birds in the Tyrannidae family. With over 400 species found worldwide, flycatchers are known for their aerial insectivore behavior, catching flying insects on the wing. Arizona’s flycatcher diversity reflects the variety of habitat types that can be found across the state including deserts, canyons, forests, grasslands, scrublands, wetlands and riparian areas.
Overview of Flycatchers in Arizona
There are 15 species of flycatchers that are known to occur regularly in Arizona according to species records and expert ornithological knowledge. These include:
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
- Black Phoebe
- Brown-crested Flycatcher
- Buff-breasted Flycatcher
- Cordilleran Flycatcher
- Dusky Flycatcher
- Gray Flycatcher
- Greater Pewee
- Hammond’s Flycatcher
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- Western Kingbird
- Western Wood-Pewee
There are also several other flycatcher species that are rare vagrants or accidental in Arizona including Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher among others. This article provides an overview of the identification, distribution, ecology and conservation status of the regular flycatcher species found in the state.
Ash-throated Flycatcher
The Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) is a common and widespread species found across most of Arizona below 6000 feet elevation. It is a summer breeding resident and migrates out of the state for winter. This is a medium-sized flycatcher with a large head, stout bill and long tail. Adults have a pale gray throat and breast, brownish olive upperparts and a pale yellow belly. They have rufous patches in the wings and tail. Their most distinctive feature is the ash-gray throat that gives them their name.
Ash-throated Flycatchers breed in desert scrub, arid canyons, riparian woodlands and open woodlands throughout Arizona. They make a bulky nest in a tree cavity or similar crevice. Their diet is composed mostly of insects captured during aerial forays from an open perch. They are often detected by their loud, rolling call described as a “pit-er-ick”.
Black Phoebe
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a locally common species found across much of Arizona west of the Mogollon Rim below 4000 feet elevation. Unlike most other flycatchers, the Black Phoebe is a year-round resident in most of its range. This is a uniquely dark flycatcher with a black head, body and tail contrasting with a white belly. They constantly pump their long tail while perching.
Black Phoebes breed around streams, wetlands and structures that provide overhanging cover near water. They build a cup nest on a ledge or beam under overhangs. They forage for insects from rocks and branches near water, returning to the same prominent perch. Their song is a scratchy “pit-churr”. They are well-adapted to human structures and are a common sight around bridges, culverts and dams.
Brown-crested Flycatcher
The Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus) is an uncommon summer breeding resident of southeast Arizona found in canyons, scrublands and woodlands up to 5500 feet elevation. They rarely occur outside the southeast corner of the state. As their name suggests, these flycatchers have a conspicuous brown crested crown that contrasts with their pale gray throat and olive upperparts. The underparts are pale yellow.
Brown-crested Flycatchers nest in tree cavities in riparian areas and canyons, occasionally using old woodpecker holes. They forage for insects high in trees by flycatching and gleaning vegetation. Their call is a loud, wheezy “wheeurrr” descending in pitch. They are declining in parts of their range due to habitat loss and nest cavity competition.
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
The Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Empidonax fulvifrons) is an uncommon summer visitor to southeast Arizona that breeds in pine-oak woodlands and sycamore-lined canyons from 4000 to 8000 feet elevation. As their name suggests, they have a distinctive buffy peach-colored breast and belly that contrasts with olive-gray upperparts. The head is more brownish. The eye ring is faint.
During the breeding season, Buff-breasted Flycatchers feed on insects high in tall trees, making short aerial sallies from an exposed perch to capture prey. Their call is a loud “pu-EEK” and song is a buzzy “prrrzeee”. They construct a neat cup nest lined with plant fibers, moss and hair on a horizontal branch.
Cordilleran Flycatcher
The Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis) is an uncommon summer resident and breeder in forested mountain ranges across Arizona. They occur in coniferous and mixed forests between 6000 to 9500 feet elevation. This is one of the more nondescript Empidonax flycatchers, best identified by voice. They have olive-gray upperparts and a pale gray throat, breast and flanks. The lower belly is pale yellow.
As their name implies, Cordilleran Flycatchers are found in association with mountain ranges in the western cordillera. In Arizona they prefer ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests with meadow openings. They eat insects captured during aerial flycatching maneuvers or gleaned from foliage. Their typical call is a sneezy “psee-urr” and song an ascending “ree-eep”.
Dusky Flycatcher
The Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) is a common summer resident and breeder in forests across much of Arizona. They are found between 5000 to 9500 feet in pine, oak and mixed montane woodlands. This is a rather nondescript Empidonax flycatcher best identified by voice. They have olive-gray upperparts and light gray underparts with faint yellowish on the throat and belly.
Dusky Flycatchers breed in forest openings, edges and clearings across the Arizona mountains. They construct an open cup nest in the fork of a branch. They mainly eat insects captured by aerial flycatching maneuvers and gleaned from leaves. Their call is a repeated “pu-zeek” and song is a descending “pzee-ip”.
Gray Flycatcher
The Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) is a locally common small flycatcher found in arid and semi-arid habitats in northern and western Arizona. They occur in pinyon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush scrub and desert riparian areas between 3000 to 8500 feet elevation. Gray Flycatchers have a gray head, breast and back with pale yellow underparts. The eyering is faint and bill is black.
Gray Flycatchers perch upright on open shrub branches to flycatch insects before returning to the same perch repeatedly. They also glean insects from foliage while spreading and flicking their long tails. Their call is a harsh “whit” or “pit” and the song is a buzzy descending trill. They nest in an open cup placed in a shrub or tree fork.
Greater Pewee
The Greater Pewee (Contopus pertinax) is an uncommon and local summer resident in southeast Arizona, breeding in high elevation canyon and woodland habitats above 5000 feet. It is the largest Empidonax flycatcher in Arizona. Greater Pewees have dark olive-gray upperparts and pale gray underparts. There are faint yellowish patches on the throat and belly. The most distinctive feature is very long wingtips that extend beyond the tail.
Greater Pewees breed in shady canyons and riparian corridors with large trees, as well as oak and pine-oak woodlands. They mainly eat insects caught on the wing with short aerial flycatching flights from an open perch. The song is a descending whistle “peee-uuu-weee”. The nest is an open cup in a tree fork.
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) is a locally common summer breeding resident in coniferous forests across northern and eastern Arizona. They occur between 6000 to 9500 feet elevation. This nondescript Empidonax is best identified by voice. They have olive-gray upperparts and pale gray underparts with faint yellowish on the throat and belly.
Hammond’s Flycatchers breed in ponderosa pine, fir and mixed conifer forests, especially with meadow openings. They mainly eat insects captured during aerial flycatching flights or gleaned from leaves. Their call is a raspy “pi-bek” and song is an ascending “zyeeeeuu”. The nest is an open cup placed in a conifer tree.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is an uncommon summer breeding resident, found locally in coniferous and aspen forests between 7000 to 9500 feet elevation. As their name suggests, this large flycatcher has conspicuously bold white tufts on the flanks contrasting with olive-brown upperparts and a darker head. The underparts are gray-white.
Olive-sided Flycatchers nest high in conifers, usually on horizontal outer branches. They forage for insects above the forest canopy during aerial flycatching maneuvers or by gleaning from high outer foliage. Their song is a loud descending “quick THREE BEERS”. This species is declining across its range.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
The Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) is a fairly common summer resident and breeder in woodlands across much of Arizona. They occur between 6000 to 8500 feet elevation in oak, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine forests with an open understory. This nondescript Empidonax species is best identified by voice. They have olive to gray-brown upperparts and pale yellow-gray underparts.
Pacific-slope Flycatchers like forest openings and edges near streams or meadows. They catch flying insects during aerial flycatching flights or glean them from leaves. Their call is a descending “psee-eur” and song is a rising, then falling “ree-BEER-beeee”. Their nest is an open cup in a shrub or tree fork.
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) is an endangered species that breeds locally in dense riparian habitats along rivers and streams in central and southeast Arizona. As its name implies, this subspecies strongly depends on dense stands of willow for breeding. It has olive-gray upperparts and pale yellow-gray underparts.
Southwestern Willow Flycatchers arrive in Arizona in late spring to breed in thick willow, tamarisk and cottonwood riparian areas. They feed on insects caught during flight or gleaned from foliage while flitting through the dense vegetation canopy. Due to extensive loss and degradation of riparian habitat, this subspecies is endangered with only around 1000 breeding territories left range-wide.
Vermilion Flycatcher
The brilliantly colored Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is a locally common resident breeder in scrubby and open habitats in western and southern Arizona at elevations below 4000 feet. Adult males have bright reddish plumage on the underparts, crest and tail. Females are grayer above and paler peach-orange below. Both sexes have a black face mask.
Vermilion Flycatchers nest in shrubs and short trees in dry washes and canyons, desert scrub, arid grasslands, agricultural areas and riparian areas. They perch upright and survey for insects before aerial flycatching or sallying out to catch prey on the ground. Their song is thin, high-pitched and whip-like. They are declining in parts of their range.
Western Kingbird
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is a common and widespread summer breeding resident found below 6500 feet across Arizona in open country with scattered trees and shrubs. This relatively large flycatcher has a gray head and back, dark mask, yellow belly, and olive-gray wings and tail. They have a squared off tip to the tail.
Western Kingbirds nest in trees along woodland edges, roadways, agricultural areas and urban areas with suitable habitat. They aggressively defend nesting areas from intruders. They flycatch insects during aerial maneuvers and occasionally eat fruit. Their song is a complex loud series of warbles, chips and whistles.
Western Wood-Pewee
The Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) is a fairly common summer breeding resident found in woods and riparian areas across much of Arizona between 4000 to 8000 feet elevation. This flycatcher is grayish-olive above and pale whitish-gray below with subtle yellowish patches on the throat, breast and belly. The wings have two pale wingbars.
Western Wood-Pewees use open stands of trees in pine and oak forests, canyons and shady riparian areas. They sit upright on an open perch to scan for flying insect prey. Their song is a rising, breathy “pee-ooo-weeee”. They nest on a horizontal branch in a tree, often close to water.
Summary of Flycatcher Identification
Identifying flycatchers to species can be challenging due to similarities in appearance among some species. Paying close attention to habitat preferences, behavior, vocalizations and subtle plumage differences helps with identification. Location and distribution within Arizona is also an important clue. Consultation of bird field guides that illustrate plumage features, provide voice descriptions and outline habitat and range is highly recommended for positive identification.
Flycatcher Ecology and Behavior
Flycatchers occupy an ecological niche as aerial insectivores that catch insects on the wing. They have evolved a range of adaptations to facilitate flycatching including large gapes and mouths, quick reflexes, maneuverable flight, and excellent eyesight. Most flycatchers sally forth from an open perch to capture insects during flight before returning to the same or nearby perch. This allows scanning for more insects while conserving energy between flycatching bouts. Some species also glean insects from foliage while perched or flitting through vegetation.
Flycatchers are territorial during the breeding season, defending an area against intrusions from competitors and predators. Most build open cup nests in a tree fork or similar site, and the parents share duties of incubating eggs and feeding nestlings. Flycatchers are migratory and travel between temperate breeding ranges in summer and tropical wintering grounds farther south. A few species like Black Phoebe are year-round residents in the southwest.
Flycatcher Conservation
Habitat loss and degradation poses threats to some flycatcher species, particularly those that are riparian obligates or forest specialists. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is endangered due to extensive loss of dense riparian habitat across its range. Other species such as Olive-sided Flycatcher have experienced declines due to forest habitat changes. Protecting natural habitats and reducing impacts like excessive livestock grazing and development are important conservation measures for vulnerable species. Climate change may also pose long-term threats to migration patterns and habitat suitability.
Conclusion
Arizona provides important breeding habitat for 15 regular flycatcher species adapted to habitats ranging from desert scrub to high elevation forests. Flycatchers occupy an ecological niche as aerial insectivores that catch insects on the wing. They have a suite of behavioral and morphological adaptations to facilitate flycatching. Identification to species can be challenging but is aided by attention to habitat, vocalizations, distribution and subtle plumage details. Some Arizona flycatchers have experienced population declines due to habitat degradation, requiring habitat protection to support sustainable populations.