Alder Flycatcher

The Alder Flycatcher is a plain, olive-toned member of the Empidonax genus that breeds across the boreal and northern regions of North America, favoring wet shrubby habitats dominated by alder and willow thickets. Visually all but identical to the closely related Willow Flycatcher, the two species were only recognized as distinct in the 1970s based primarily on differences in song, and they remain essentially inseparable in the field without vocalizations.

This species breeds farther north than the Willow Flycatcher on average, favoring cooler, wetter boreal shrublands, bogs, and stream edges across Canada, Alaska, and the northern tier of the United States.

Key Field Marks

• Plain olive-brown upperparts with a faint or indistinct whitish eye-ring
• Two pale wing bars
• Whitish throat grading to a pale olive breast and yellowish belly
• Essentially identical in appearance to the Willow Flycatcher

Similar Species

• Willow Flycatcher is visually indistinguishable in most cases; the two are reliably separated only by song, with the Alder Flycatcher giving an explosive, rolling free-beer compared to the Willow's sneezy fitz-bew.
• Least Flycatcher is smaller with a more prominent eye-ring and a very different, sharply repeated call.

Alder Flycatchers breed across the boreal forest zone of Canada and Alaska, extending south into the northern United States, favoring wet, shrubby habitats such as alder and willow thickets along streams, bogs, and wetland margins.

The species winters in South America, primarily in the Amazon basin and surrounding regions, undertaking a long-distance migration each year.

Voice

Sings an explosive, burry, rolling free-beer, the primary way to distinguish it from the nearly identical Willow Flycatcher; also gives a sharp pip call.

Feeding

Sallies from a low perch within dense shrubby vegetation to catch flying insects, and also gleans prey from leaves and twigs.

Nesting

Builds a loosely constructed cup nest of grass and plant fibers low in an alder, willow, or other dense shrub, typically in wet habitat.