Pacific-slope Flycatcher

The Pacific-slope Flycatcher are small and attractive birds native to western North America, the Pacific Region. These insectivorous birds belong to the family Tyrannidae. They are soft greenish brown birds, with bold eye rings that make them look rather cute. Pacific-scope Flycatchers look very similar to other species in the genus, Empidonax.

About Pacific-slope Flycatchers

Especially, these birds have stark similarities with another species of Flycatchers named, Cordilleran Flycatcher. These two species are so difficult to distinguish from each other that until 1989. These were thought to be the same and were commonly known as Western Flycatchers.

Other than the Cordilleran Flycatcher other similar birds in the Genus includes the Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, and the Western Wood-Pewee. All of which are very similar to each other when it comes to appearance.

The species name of Pacific-slope Flycatchers is difficilis, derived from “difficult” as these birds are very difficult to distinguish apart from Cordilleran Flycatchers. Aren’t these cute little birds that are hard to tell apart from others particularly interesting? Let’s find out more about them and then maybe we can learn how to distinguish them!

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

GET KIDS BIRD WATCHING

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Color Pattern

Pacific-slope Flycatchers are attractive little birds when it comes to their appearance. With fresh plumage, these birds are brighter. They have pale greenish-brown above, pale below with lemon wash, and brownish breast. The wings and tail are dark with strongly contrasting pale wing bars.

However worn-out birds may appear a little darker with brownish above, dingy pale gray below, with weak wing bars. The color of these birds may seem brighter or paler according to the difference of subspecies across different regions. A bright-colored subspecies inhabits the Channel Islands of California whereas, another paler subspecies is found in the mountains of southern Baja California in Mexico.

Description and Identification

Pacific-slope Flycatchers are small, plump, and soft-looking. They have an upright posture and a small round head. Male and female birds look alike by appearance however, birds with newer or worn-out plumage can be distinguished because of the darker color and dingier color of the latter.

Pacific-slope Flycatchers have an almond/teardrop-shaped eye-ring that is light brown in color and visible well on their otherwise olive-green head. The eye-ring is a key field mark for identifying these birds. They also have peaked crowns and they flick their tail upwards while resting.

These birds live in the mountains of western North America, usually in shady but partially open coniferous and mixed forests near streams, ravines, and canyons of foothills. Pacific-slope Flycatchers fly out of perches at middle heights in trees and understory capturing insects in flight. They also rarely catch insects off the ground.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Song

Pacific-slope Flycatchers aren’t particularly songbirds. But, the male birds sing a high-pitched song with three distinct parts that sound something like “ps-SEET ptsick tseet”. Among the most commonly heard calls are the sweet up slurred “peeWEET” of the male birds and the high pitched, short, and hiss-like “tsip” of the female. Other sounds these tiny Flycatchers include the males snapping their bills when they enter the territory of another bird.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Size

By size, Pacific-slope Flycatchers are classified as “small” birds. These birds are relatively slightly larger than Chestnut-backed Chickadees and smaller than Black Phoebes. They are roughly 5.5-6.7 inches (14-17 cm) lengthwise and weigh around 0.3-0.4 ounces (8-12 g) with a wingspan of 7.9-9.1 inches (20-23 cm).

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Behavior

Pacific-slope Flycatchers show similar behavior to other Flycatchers in the genus Empidonax. Just like others, the male birds sing to mark their territories and attract mates. These cute-seeming tiny birds are very territorial and chase away any other male or birds from flycatcher species that enter their territory. These territories range from 2.5 to 8.7 acres in size. These territories usually have gapping spaces and canopy breaks to facilitate foraging and nesting sites that may even include the sides of ravines or banks, road cuts, or even buildings or bridges.

The male birds sing frequently till they find a mate. As the nesting begins, they sing mostly at daybreak. There are no known courtship displays for these birds. Specifically, Pacific-slope Flycatchers are monogamous. Both male and female birds in the pairs share incubation and feeding duties.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Diet

Pacific-slope Flycatchers are insectivores. These birds majorly eat insects that they catch in flight. However, they also pick insects and bugs from the ground and grass sometimes. They hunt mostly from the interior of the trees and large shrubs usually from the middle of the tree. They mostly catch the flying insects and bugs beneath the canopy level. The diet of Pacific-slope Flycatchers mainly consists of a variety of insects, bugs, and flies including, beetles, bugs, wasps, bees, flies, snakeflies, moths, caterpillars, leafhoppers, and spiders.

However, the birds shift to a mixed diet including berries, especially during winters, and tend to consume berries such as elderberry and blackberry.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Habitat

Pacific-slope Flycatchers breed in shady coniferous or mixed forests of western North America. Especially near streams of water where the canopy is partially opened. They mostly inhabit second growth, mature and old-growth forests. Sometimes, they also nest in ravines and canyons and on the ground rather than in vegetation. Among the common conifers in their preferred habitats are Douglas-fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, incense cedar, western redcedar, sugar pine, ponderosa pine, and redwood. While deciduous trees include big-leaf maple, vine maple, black cottonwood, Pacific madrone, sycamore, poplar, black oak, Garry oak, and tanoak.

Whereas, understory vegetation in breeding areas is commonly alder, willow, dogwood, currant, wild rose, black hawthorn, and serviceberry. Birds that inhabit the Channel Islands mostly nest in shady canyons. These canyons are usually with oak trees.

Even though Pacific-slope Flycatchers are very territorial, they tend to live in more closed environments during winters. Wintering birds in Mexico inhabit both lowland and Montane forests, where they select shaded environments often near water.

Range and Migration

Pacific-slope Flycatchers are mostly found in the western North American mountains during the breeding season. Their range includes coniferous and mixed woods of coniferous and deciduous vegetation of the Pacific area of North America mostly including California, Southern Baja, and Mexico. Some birds are also found in the Channel Islands of Southern California. However, there have been instances when the west coast birds have shown up on the east coast in Palmyra, New Jersey.

The winter migration includes migrating towards lower elevations from higher elevations. Pacific-slope Flycatchers migrate towards Southern Arizona on their way to mainland Mexico. They winter mostly in western and southern Mexico.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Lifecycle

Pacific-slope Flycatchers have a life span of an average of 6.9 years in the wild. The oldest Flycatcher that was ever marked was 6 years and 11 months old. However, in captivity, these birds can live longer than that.

These lovely little birds nest in shady places. The pairs build nests together during the nesting season. The female lays 3-5 eggs. These eggs are white in color with brownish blotches concentrated near the larger ends. Only the female birds incubate the eggs and the incubation period is 14 to 15 days. The hatchlings take the first flight after 14-18 days and are fed by both the female and the male parent.

Nesting

In the Pacific Northwest, Pacific-slope Flycatchers intersect with the Hammond’s Flycatchers and compete for nesting sites and defend their territories against each other.

The nests are made in shady places, mostly near water. When it comes to vegetation like trees and shrubs, the nests are built near canopy openings. But usually, in other situations, the nest is in a cleft of a vertical stream bank, on a stump, among the upturned roots of a fallen tree, under a small bridge, or on rafters in a shed. While in natural sites, the nests can be near the ground, in manmade structures, the nest can be at 10-20 feet above the ground level.

The female builds an elaborate nest cup using a spider web to bind materials like bark strips, leaves, grass stems, moss, and lichen to the exterior in order to disguise the nest in its setting. She then lines the interior with finer and softer materials like hair, feather, plant fiber, and manmade material like paper, yarn, and strings to make the nest more comfortable inside for better handling of the eggs. The nest cup measures about 4.7 inches across, with the interior cup 2 inches across and 1.1 inches deep.

Anatomy of a Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatchers are tiny soft birds with plenty of plumage. They have a small round head and a round body with strong wings. The bills of these birds are fairly wide and straight. These birds also have a peaked crown and an upright posture. The tail is fairly long and the feet are slender with curved toes and sharp nails. There is a teardrop-shaped eye-ring around the black shiny eyes which is a major mark of identification for Pacific-slope Flycatchers.

Final Thoughts

There are many subspecies of Pacific-slope Flycatchers. One of such subspecies that lives in the Channel Islands of California is very different from these birds. There has been evidence of genetic differences too because of which these subspecies can actually be a whole different species on their own.

These cute little birds have successfully maintained their population throughout the world and that is what proves their resilient and adaptive nature and are in the low-risk category. However, like every other species of animal in the world, these birds too are affected by Global Warming and are subjected to habitat loss due to human activities.

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Pacific-slope Flycatchers

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Pacific-slope 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.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Pacific-slope Flycatcher. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Bird Feeders For Pacific-slope Flycatchers

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird HousesFor Pacific-slope Flycatchers

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.