Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Encyclopedia
The Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) is a small insectivorous
bird of the family Tyrannidae
. It is native to coastal regions of western North America
, including the Pacific Ocean
and the southern Sea of Cortez, as far north as British Columbia
and southern Alaska
, but is replaced in the inland regions by the Cordilleran Flycatcher
. These two species were formerly considered a single species known as Western Flycatcher. In winter, both species migrate south to Mexico
, where they are virtually indistinguishable from one another.
, douglas fir forests
, redwood forests, and many other wooded environments including Riparian woodlands
.
s and wherever such insects congregate. They fulfill an important role in keeping insects, particularly mosquito's population in check.
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
bird of the family Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
. It is native to coastal regions of western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, including the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and the southern Sea of Cortez, as far north as British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and southern Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, but is replaced in the inland regions by the Cordilleran Flycatcher
Cordilleran Flycatcher
The Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis, is a small insect-eating bird. It is a small Empidonax flycatcher, with typical length ranging from 13 to 17 cm....
. These two species were formerly considered a single species known as Western Flycatcher. In winter, both species migrate south to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where they are virtually indistinguishable from one another.
Description
In plumage, the Pacific-slope Flycatcher is virtually identical to the Cordilleran Flycatcher, and differs only subtly from most Empidonax flycatchers in North America, but its breeding habitat and call are different. Its call can vary slightly by different regions and the bird itself.Habitat
The Pacific-slope Flycatcher inhabits either coniferous or deciduous forests. In its range it enters mixed woodsCalifornia mixed evergreen forest
California mixed evergreen forest is an ecoregion, of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome, that occurs in the Pacific Coast Ranges of southwestern Oregon and California, and in the Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in California...
, douglas fir forests
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
, redwood forests, and many other wooded environments including Riparian woodlands
Riparian forest
A riparian forest is a forested area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir. -Etymology:...
.
Diet
As a flycatcher it will wait on a perch and when it sees a flying insect it will chase it without any apparent effort. They also enter swarms of gnats, mosquitoMosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
s and wherever such insects congregate. They fulfill an important role in keeping insects, particularly mosquito's population in check.
External links
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher at Avibase
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher at USGS
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article w/photo gallery of Pacific-slope Flycatcher
