Dusky Flycatcher

Dusky Flycatcher, worn spring plumage, Channel Islands, CA; April.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A dull flycatcher of western mountains, the Dusky Flycatcher is found in chaparral, streamside thickets, and open brushy areas. It is extremely difficult to tell from Hammond's Flycatcher on looks alone.

Description

• Small flycatcher.
• Prominent eyering and wingbars.
• Back grayish.
• Underparts whitish, with some yellowish wash.

• Size: 13-15 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 20-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Weight: 9-11 g (0.32-0.39 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Sound

Song has 3 basic elements: a vaguely 2-syllabled "prll-it" rising in frequency, a rough, low-pitched "prrdrrt," and a clear, high-pitched"pseet." Call note a soft "whit."

Conservation Status

Common and increasing.

Other Names

Moucherolle sombre (French)
Mosquerito Oscuro (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Dusky and Hammond's flycatchers are so similar that telling them apart is a true challenge. Color and pattern do not help. Even voice, usually the most helpful character in distinguishing Empidonax flycatchers, does not help much. The best character for this species pair in the hand is the length of the outer wing feathers: Dusky has relatively short wingtips, with the outermost feather (primary 10, or "p10") being shorter or the same length as the middle one (p5); Hammond's has long wingtips with p10 being longer than p5.

Sources used to construct this page:

Sedgwick, J. A. 1993. Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri). In The Birds of North America, No. 78 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists¿ Union.