Ash-throated Flycatcher

The Ash-throated Flycatcher is a very versatile bird with the ability to survive in almost any climate. Due to water intake requirements being minimum to none along with them needing a relatively small area to nest, it is rather easy for them to survive in harsh desert climates.

About Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatchers are a familiar sight throughout the western parts of North America. You can easily spot them all year round in parts of California and Arizona. Almost all populations of the Ash-throated Flycatcher are migratory and move from the north to the south during this period. The migration period starts during the last weeks
of summer and early weeks of fall. They usually move out of the United States by mid-September. Some small populations can also be non-migratory.

They generally occupy lowland and mid-elevation areas with them settling in habitats of deciduous forests, desert shrubs, mixed woodland areas, coniferous forests, etc. There is no specific size for their territories, and it depends on the area they choose to inhabit and its surroundings. The largest populations along with the smallest territory sizes tend to be around areas with growing vegetation along banks of rivers, streams, lakes, and lagoons.

Ash-throated Flycatchers are secondary cavity nesters, meaning, they might create nests in already existing cavities, generally man-made. These cavities can include hollow poles, human-made nest boxes, and any other such cavities that might be available. This characteristic of secondary nesting has played a major role in the increase in their population. It helps balance the loss of habitat due to climatic as well as human-made conditions and has led to the expansion into areas that were previously unoccupied by Ash-throated Flycatchers.

The majority of its species live throughout the western parts of America and are similar in terms of their appearance with the exception of small populations of non-migratory Ash-throated Flycatchers. You can find these birds in the central and Baja regions of California where they appear to have longer bills along with shorter wings. This led them to be considered a sub-species.

Ash-Throated Flycatchers not only have interesting names but also lead interesting lives which we will be taking a look at today! Today we will learn:

● Ash-Throated Flycatcher Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Ash-Throated Flycatcher Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● Ash-Throated Flycatcher Range and Migration, Nesting

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Ash-throated Flycatcher Color Pattern

You must be wondering about the reason behind the name of the Ash-throated Flycatcher. We will now learn why is its name related to the color. As their name suggests The Ash-throated Flycatcher has a greyish-white neck along with contrasting upper parts which are brownish grey in nature. The feathers on the cheeks and forehead are generally a lighter grey in color complementing their lores which refer to the feathers extending from the base of the bill to the eyes. These are also grey in color, similar to their forehead and cheeks.

The grey throat which gives them their name extends to the sides of their neck creating a sort of collar across their hindneck. Their breasts are colored a pale grey along with their chin and throat. The belly is usually colored light and pale yellow. There is a slight white coloring between the neck and the belly helping the color transition from grey to yellow. Their wings are blackish-brown in color along with a pale whitish-grey on some of their wing bars creating a sort of outline for those wing feathers. The underwings might have a rufous coloring to them which can be noticed from the sides. The eyes are generally colored brownish black along with their black bill.

Description and Identification

You can easily identify Ash-throated Flycatchers by their coloring, specifically their ash-colored throats which is how they got their name. Another way to identify this species can be through their songs and calls which sound like “br-ick” and “ka-brick”. Areas, where Ash-throated Flycatchers live, have been considered to be too “noisy” due to their songs and calls. This might be an easy way to find this species.

However, the best way to identify an Ash-throated Flycatcher would be through its plumage and size. As mentioned earlier the color of their throats is the biggest giveaway in terms of identifying them. Although, they can often be confused for Brown-crested Flycatchers or Nutting’s Flycatcher.

The Ash-throated Flycatcher can be confused for these species due to the similarity in their appearance as well as due to the overlap in their habitats. Brown-crested Flycatchers have extensive overlap with Ash-throated Flycatchers in terms of their habitat. Being Flycatchers, they are similar in shape and size and can often look similar to the naked eye from afar. They have similar head and body plumage; however, the Ash-throated Flycatcher has a lighter grey throat as compared to the Brown-crested. Another way to differentiate between the two would be through their size and bills.
Brown-crested generally has a slightly larger body and bill as compared to the Ash-throated.

In the case of Nutting’s Flycatcher and Ash-throated Flycatcher, geographical overlaps occur as well along with the similarity in their plumage and calls. One of the best ways to tell them apart would be to look for the whiteish grey collar extending to the hindneck. This collar is absent in Nutting’s Flycatchers making it easier to distinguish between the two.

Both male and female Ash-throated Flycatchers are similar in appearance, although the males can be slightly larger in size as compared to the females. Females of this species also have more rounded wings as compared to males.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Song

Unfortunately, not a lot is known about the calls and songs of this species. We are yet to study the nature and reasons behind their calls and songs as well as which situations demand which type of vocalizations.

However, from what we do know about their vocalizations, we know that both males and females sing or call. Although the males of this species are more vocal in comparison to the females. Four main patterns of vocalizations have been identified which are structured in various ways giving them the characteristics of either songs or calls. Using these four patterns, seven songs of Ash-throated Flycatchers have been recognized.

These four patterns are huit, br-ick, wheer, and urg. Huit can be rapidly vocalized, and when done in such a manner it can sound like a series of trills. Br-ick is essentially a sharper suit and can include variations such as ‘ka-brick’. Wheer, on the other hand, sees an increase and decrease in the frequency at which it is vocalized depending upon the
excitement level of the Ash-throated Flycatcher. Urg is generally a low-pitch and short. These calls can easily be mistaken for the call of Nutter’s Flycatcher or Brown-crested Flycatcher.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Size

The Ash-throated Flycatcher is a rather small bird, comparable to a canary or a cockatiel in size. There is not much of a difference between the males and the females of this species in terms of their size and body mass.

The body mass of males varies between 21.2-37.2gm and females range between 22-37.8gm. In terms of wing lengths, the wings of the females are generally between 8.8-9.9cm in length, and the males’ wingspan is typically between 9.4-10.5cm in length. Males can have slightly longer beaks as compared to the females of this species, with the mean length for their bills being 1.48cm and the females being 1.41cm.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Behavior

Regrettably, Ash-throated Flycatchers have not been studied in-depth due to various reasons. Due to this, the particularities of some of their behavior are still a mystery to us. Ash-throated Flycatchers can at certain times display aggressive behavior. They are known to be extremely territorial and defend their territories and nests ferociously.
During the breeding season, they can be especially territorial and aggressive during the search for a perfect nesting site, however, once the eggs are laid, their behavior becomes less aggressive. Territories during the breeding season can be densely populated.

Ash-throated Flycatchers are monogamous and will therefore mate with the same partner every mating season. The males are observed to be protective of the females, standing guard behind them when the females engage in nest building.

Individuals of this species prefer to be by themselves and live solitarily. The only time they interact with others of their species is during the breeding season when they find a mate and in situations when they have to defend their territories. As mentioned earlier, Ash-throated Flycatchers are aggressive birds and have been known to displace birds of other species such as Woodpeckers, other Flycatchers, Mountain Bluebirds, etc. during the nesting season in order to take over their nests. In cases where the eggs are already laid by the other species, Ash-throated Flycatchers do not harm the eggs, but rather lay their own eggs in the same nest and treat the alien egg as their own.

Due to the fact that Ash-throated Flycatchers are solitary birds, it has been difficult to study their behavior and locomotion as well as their nesting habits. From what is known about their locomotion, we know that they fly using rapid and continuous movements of their wings. They also engage in aerial acrobatic while chasing prey, defending their territory, or as part of courtship displays. During short flights, they keep their body upright, fluttering from post to post. They are seldom on the ground, but when they are, it is usually for the purposes of foraging. When on the ground they move around in a hopping fashion.

What Ash-throated Flycatchers Eat

A major part of the diet for this species is arthropods. They feed on them all year round, but more so during spring migration and breeding seasons. Other items in their diet include fruits along with small reptiles and mammals, although they very rarely feed on reptiles and mammals. Small fruits are consumed more during the winters and fall
migration, when it might be more difficult to find arthropods.

Some of the arthropods they feed on include, beetles, caterpillars, butterflies, cicadas, grasshoppers, some species of spiders, etc. The fruits they consume include various types of berries such as elderberries, blueberries, and other small fruits. During the winters they might also consume seeds that are available in the environment around them.

Ash-throated Flycatchers Habitat

They typically tend to inhabit areas near open woodlands. They prefer arid and semi-arid scrubs. During the breeding season, their habitats can vary from areas close to the sea level to areas and far above the sea level depending on which part of the continent they are in. However, they do not breed in humid areas and prefer dryer places. Their
nests can be found in desert shrubs, riparian woodlands, open woodlands, etc.

Range and Migration

Ash-throated Flycatchers are a common occurrence in most of the northwestern states of the United States. They can be as far north as central Washington, as well as Idaho, Wyoming, etc. Most populations of the Ash-throated Flycatchers are migratory, although populations in Baja area of California are known to be sedentary. The timing
and routes of their migration are not well documented, although, in the United States, they have been observed to more from their breeding locations during the months of July and August.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Lifecycle

During the breeding season, the females lay eggs with a clutch size between 3-6 per clutch. The eggs are small in size are oval in terms of their shape. One egg is laid every day until the clutch is complete. Incubation starts after the completion of the clutch and lasts around 14-16 days. The eggs are incubated by the females, however, there have been some observations of males incubating as well. The female broods the hatchlings until one week after hatching. The younglings start to leave the nest when they are around 13-17 days old.

Nesting

Nests can be made in preexisting cavities, or they choose a spot to create a cavity in. On rare occasions, they are known to invade and occupy already existing nests of other birds. This happens more so in areas of high density. Nests are generally constructed of dry grass, stems, strips of bark, etc., and are lined with wool and fur. The entire construction of the nest is done by the female of the species.

Anatomy of Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatchers are rather small birds. However, as Flycatcher they are medium-large. They sport a long tail along with a relatively large and rounded head. They boast a thick and wide hooked bill along with a bushy crest.

Final Thoughts

Ash-throated Flycatchers are solitary birds, making studying them all the more difficult. Although, not a lot is known about various aspects of their lives, from what we know we can say that can often come off as aggressive birds.

They are spread all around the northwestern parts of the United States, inhabiting states such as Idaho, Washington, California, etc. They also inhabit parts of Mexico. The majority of this species is migratory, however, some populations in California are known to be sedentary.

The Ash-throated Flycatcher gets its name from the grayish-white coloring on its throat. These are beautiful birds that can be found in generally dry ad open areas, the best way to find them is to look out for their call of “ka-brick”.

Ornithology

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Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Ash-throated Flycatchers

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Ash-throated Flycatchers are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Stickers

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Bird Feeders For Ash-throated Flycatchers

There are many types of bird feeders. Here are our favorite bird feeders for your backyard. We use all of these bird feeders currently. Kids will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. Using this collection of bird feeders will provide a wide variety and many types of birds.

Best Bird Houses for Ash-throated Flycatchers

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