A small olive-tan flycatcher of moist willow thickets. Southwestern subspecies endangered. Distinctive "fitz-bew" song.

Also called: Traill's Flycatcher

Native status: Native to North America

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 12–22 cm (4.7–8.7 in); wingspan 18–35 cm
Weight10–55 g
LifespanWild 4–10 years
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTyrannidae

§ Encyclopedia

The willow flycatcher is a small insect-eating, migrant bird of the tyrant flycatcher family native to North America.

Source: Wikipedia — Willow flycatcher Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Drab brownish-olive flycatcher with little or no eye ring, two pale wing bars, and a whitish throat; best identified by voice and habitat.

Similar species. Alder Flycatcher is nearly identical and separated by song; both were once lumped as 'Traill's Flycatcher'.

Voice. A sneezy, burry 'FITZ-bew' (versus Alder's 'free-BEER').

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Flying insects caught on the wing.

Behavior. An Empidonax flycatcher of wet willow and shrub thickets; the 'Southwestern' subspecies is federally endangered. Sallies for insects from shrub perches.

§ Range

Across North America in summer

§ Habitat

Willow thickets, riparian shrub habitat

§ Threats

Riparian habitat loss, invasive species, water diversions.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the willow flycatcher is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support riparian restoration. Remove invasive tamarisk. Donate to USFWS recovery programs.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • iNaturalist
  • IUCN Red List