Empidonax alnorum

Description

This bird is small with drab coloration, including a dusky breast and a white throat. It has a relatively long, broad bill with a dark upper mandible (bill) and a lighter lower mandible. An alder flycatcher's wings are reasonably long with two distinct white wingbars (may be less distinct in younger birds).

Voice

Song is a harsh rreeBEEa or rough rrreep or rrreeea, while call is a flat peep.

Breeding

May to July

Habitat

This bird likes low brush in or around damp, wet areas like marshes.

Diet

Flycatchers sally out from their perches to catch insects in flight.

Range

Alder flycatchers summer in Canada and the Northeastern United States (including VT and NH) and winter in tropical America.

Other Useful Information

This bird usually prefers to be alone. They rarely form large groups.

Similar Species

The alder flycatcher is almost identical to the willow flycatcher, but the alder has a distinct eyering, while the willow has a weak eyering. An easier way to tell these species apart is by knowing the differences in their songs and calls.