Gray Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher

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

A typical species of the Great Basin sagebrush, the Gray Flycatcher can be quickly recognized not by its drab plumage, but by its habit of slowly wagging its tail downwards.

Description

• Small flycatcher.
• Prominent eyering and wingbars.
• Back gray, belly white.
• Constantly wags tail slowly downward.

• Size: 14-15 cm (6-6 in)
• Wingspan: 22 cm (9 in)
• Weight: 11-14 g (0.39-0.49 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Sound

Song a rough, two-noted "chlup, chlup." Call an upwardly inflected "prit."

Conservation Status

Relatively common and possibly increasing.

Other Names

Moucherolle gris (French)
Mosquero gris (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The similarity of Gray and Dusky flycatchers has caused confusion for a long time. In fact, the specimen designated as the "type" for Dusky Flycatcher was actually a Gray Flycatcher.

• The Gray Flycatcher was not recognized as breeding in the United States until the early 20th century. Before that time it was thought to breed in northern Mexico and to wander northward in the fall.

Sources used to construct this page:

Sterling, J. C. 1999. Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii). In The Birds of North America, No. 458 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.