Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder for May 29: Alder Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum

This week’s Bird Finder was written by Andrew Griswold, director of our EcoTravel program.

What it looks like: A small hunter of insects, the Alder Flycatcher is one of the interesting members of the Tyrant flycatcher family. The Empidonax genus within this family is made up of nondescript dull olive individuals who are most reliably differentiated from one another by their unique songs and calls. Alder Flycatcher is very difficult to separate from Willow Flycatcher, other than by voice, as these two species were once considered one under the name Traill’s Flycatcher.

Alder Flycatcher’s song is a distinctive wheezed (harsh, burry) ree-BEE-a. The call is a short preet or whistled pew and peewi.

Adult birds are dull olive-brown above, dark and browner on the wings and tail. Below they are whitish olive-grey, and distinctly paler than above. Two whitish wing bars are obvious, as is the bi-colored grey and orangish beak when at close range. That’s a lot of “ishes!” Some individuals will display a narrow pale eye-ring.

Where to find it: Breeding habitat for Alder Flycatcher (as well as a good place to look for them in migration) is deciduous thicket, which may include alders or willow swamps, streamside and lakeside thickets, and second-growth forests. Sites are always near water. They make a cup-like nest, usually low in a fork of a woody shrub, always with nesting material hanging off the sides, unlike the neater construction of the Willow Flycatcher.

There have been a good number of reports of this species this year in Connecticut. Most reports come from west of the Connecticut River, but one recent report came from Salem, the bird found in habitat as described above. A reliable place to find this bird nesting is at White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield, from which it has been reported in the last few days. Look for this bird in appropriate habitat, but first be sure you know its song and calls, likely being the first way will detect this somewhat secretive species.

The breeding range of Alder Flycatcher is nearly all of Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern United States, overall, more northerly than Willow Flycatcher. The range extends south along the Appalachian Mountains. Fall migration is to South America and the tropics, where again, they are usually found not far from water.

How to find it: One often finds Alder Flycatcher as it perches to survey its domain, “hawking” insects with the energy of a true hunter. On occasion, this bird will hover more daintily as it gleans insects from vegetation. In migration, they will eat berries and seeds.

What if the bird isn’t there: Other birds one might find along with the Alder Flycatcher could include Wood Duck, Marsh Wren, cuckoos, and a variety of nesting warblers including Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat.

Conservation status: The Alder Flycatcher is widespread but local because of its habitat requirements. It is not “a species of concern” but it is important to protect these habitats for the continued success of this species.

Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder is edited by Tom Andersen.
Photo by Jerry Oldenettel, Carolinabirds.org.