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WHITE-THROATED FLYCATCHER  Empidonax albigularis 12–13cm. Local

in semi-open and open areas with hedgerows, shrubby growth, marshes, damp

pastures; often near water. See genus note (p. 308). Typically low and in­

conspicuous, often perches on fences, grass stalks; sallies for insects. Best located

and identified by voice. Appearance similar to migrant Willow and Alder

Flycatchers but slightly smaller and more compact, with browner upperparts,

buff wingbars, ochre tinge to flanks; whitish throat not an especially good ID

feature. SOUNDS: Call quite unlike other empids: relatively low, burry, over­

slurred rréah or brriéh. Song a short burry snarl run into an emphatic ending,

brr-rreeuh’ repeated steadily. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common but local, mainly 1000–2000m

around Central Valley; in winter, some range to n. Caribbean lowlands. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

LEAST FLYCATCHER  Empidonax minimus 11.5–12.5cm. Small migrant

empid of open woodland and edge, shrubby second growth; usually at edges and

in fairly open situations, not inside forest. See genus note (p. 308). Mainly at

low to mid-levels, often fairly active; tail flicks often loose and slightly wobbly,

not discrete. Note voice, relatively compact shape, dirty whitish throat, bold

wingbars and eyering; relatively small bill typically has dusky or dark tip to

mandible. Cf. Alder and eastern Willow Flycatchers, which have longer wings,

less striking eyerings. SOUNDS: Sharply upslurred swik or whit, similar to Willow

Flycatcher but slightly higher. STATUS: Scarce Oct–Apr on both slopes, mainly

Pacific slope; to 1200m. (Breeds n. N America, winters Mexico to Costa Rica.)

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER  Empidonax flaviventris 12.5–13.5cm.

Migrant empid of humid forest, taller second-growth woodland, plantations,

gallery forest. See genus note (p. 308). Low to high, mainly at mid-levels in

shady understory and edge; rarely in open situations during migration. Fairly

compact shape recalls slightly smaller Least Flycatcher; note pale yellowish

wash to throat and underparts (belly not especially yellow), contrasting

wingbars (with broad dark band across base of secondaries), voice (but call very

similar to Acadian Flycatcher), pale orangey-pink mandible. Often in obvious

wing molt over the winter, unlike Acadian. SOUNDS:  Sharply overslurred,

slightly explosive speéik (much like Acadian); mainly in spring, a more leisurely downslurred pyeeh and

plaintive slurred tch’wee, suggesting Eastern Pewee but shorter. Song (mainly fall, when establishing

winter territories) an abrupt, burry ch’bik. STATUS: Fairly common to common Sep–Apr on both slopes,

to 1500m; more widespread in migration, late Aug–Oct, Mar to mid-May. (Breeds n. N America, winters

Mexico to w. Panama.)

ACADIAN FLYCATCHER  Empidonax virescens 13–14cm. Relatively large, big-

billed, and long-winged migrant empid of humid lowland and foothill forest,

plantations. See genus note (p. 308). Low to high, mainly from mid-levels in

shady understory to subcanopy; rarely in open situations during migration.

Note big bill with pale orangey-pink mandible, buff wingbars, dingy whitish

throat; call very similar to Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. All ages are fresh in fall–

winter (not undergoing wing molt as are many Yellow-bellied); also note weaker

dark band across base of secondaries than Yellow-bellied. SOUNDS:  Sharply

overslurred, slightly explosive speéip, averages higher and more explosive than

Yellow-bellied call. STATUS:  Uncommon to fairly common Sep–Nov, Mar to mid-May, mainly on

Caribbean slope and inland to 1800m. Rare in winter on both slopes (but many winter reports refer to

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher). (Breeds e. N America, winters s. Cen America to nw. S America.)