General Description: Western Flycatchers (Empidonax difficilis) are small, sexually monomorphic birds. As with other members of the genus, Empids are small, drab flycatchers with eye rings and wingbars. Most Empids have a bit of yellow-green on the back and belly, and this one is no different, although it has a bit more yellow on the belly. The wing bars are white. Western Flycatchers have a pronounced teardrop-shaped white eye ring, and the lower mandible is all yellow.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Fluvicolinae.

In 1989, Western Flycatchers were split into Pacific-slope Flycatchers (Empidonax difficilis) of coastal western North America and Cordilleran Flycatchers (Empidonax occidentalis) of the interior Rocky Mountains. Except for the calls of male birds, the two species were almost impossible to tell apart. In 2023, the two species were recombined into one species due to a lack of consistent vocal, genetic, and morphological differences, plus hybridization across much of the range. These two "species" are now considered to be two of five subspecies of Western Flycatcher.

Favored Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands; higher-elevation Mojave Desert Scrub.

Where to Find: During migration, Western Flycatchers can be found everywhere, but when you look for them, they are nowhere to be found; check Corn Creek, the Henderson BVP, and Deer Creek on Mt. Charleston.

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