 Catching Flycatchers In last weeks column I mentioned several Woodpecker species found around 100 Mile House. I also mentioned several well represented bird families, namely Waterfowl, Woodpeckers, and this week’s topic, Flycatchers. Unlike some members of the Waterfowl and Woodpecker communities, all Flycatcher species migrate away from the Cariboo area long before winter arrives. They leave because as their name suggests, they eat flying insects almost exclusively, and insects are a scarce commodity during winter; even at the best-stocked bird feeder. Flycatcher species that nest in the Cariboo include, from smallest to biggest: Least Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Dusky flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Willow flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Say’s Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird and Western Kingbird. Not all Flycatchers have “flycatcher” in their title (Kingbirds, Phoebes, etc.) but they are still members of the clan. The Kingbird bunch is known as tyrant Flycatchers due to their pugnacious natures. Kingbirds, despite their small size will pursue flying predators large as Eagles. Generally speaking, the first nine species listed above are rather shy and retiring. Not only are they sometimes hard to find, they are notoriously hard to identify. Birders suggest, with good reason, that the Empidonax Flycatcher group presents some of the greatest identity challenges of the bird world. In fact, were it not for their rather distinctive calls, few of the smaller flycatchers could be conclusively identified in the field. A typical encounter with a member of the Empidonax clan might go as follows… …Spring unfolds and leaves emerge, the first Flycatchers straggle into the area. You walk along the creek and perhaps spy a greenish gray specimen about the size of a Junco. But, unlike the Junco, this Flycatcher doesn’t fly for cover when approached. You notice it sits on a prominent limb and its tail droops more or less straight down. Now the big question – what is it? The mystery bird is not making a sound so you look for small clues: Does it have an eye-ring? Do the primary feathers project noticeably beyond the secondary feathers? Are the edges of the secondary feathers strongly edged? What is the overall colour? This is birding at its fiddle-iest! Finally it speaks, “Peep!” OK, now we’re getting somewhere. If winter hasn’t been so long and arduous that the doors to your memory of obscure bird calls rusted over, you might just get this one. A liquid sounding “peep” call could be a Willow Flycatcher. This early in the season flycatchers might not necessarily be hanging out in their usual haunts so even if the bird is found in a bit of an upland situation it could still be a Willow. At least now you have something to work with. Up come the binoculars. You recollect that you made note of the unique head shape of the Willow Flycatcher last year while studying a noisy nesting pair at the marsh. Does this bird have that ample nape/back of crown bushiness? It does. Is there a rather warm yellow over its chest? Yes, it does have these qualities. You tentatively accept that you may be looking at a Willow Flycatcher. There is nothing more to garner from the encounter so you turn to walk away. “Fitz-bew!” the little greenish-gray bundle calls out. Why didn’t you say that in the first place? “Fitz-bew” is the diagnostic call of the Willow Flycatcher. Knowing all the typical Empidonax Flycatcher calls certainly helps if the little beasts will but make some noise. These are their best know phrases: Least Flycatcher. A rapid “ch-bec!” repeated again and again from an upland location. Hammond’s Flycatcher. A 3 or 4 part utterance which I hear as “izzit – frree? – izzit – snrrt” There are no high calls in the bunch and this small bird is often tucked away in thick forested cover. Dusky flycatcher. “izzit – free – izzit – really??!!” This is a small bird of open edges. Just the portion of the call written as “really” is a high whistled sound and distinguishes it from the closely related Hammond’s Flycatcher. Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Found in all manner of locations from arid Fraser River locales, to yards in downtown 100 Mile House. Its call is “pseeweet – pit – seet” One must listen carefully or be very close to hear all portions of the call. Sometimes only the ‘pseeweet’ is given but is still enough to identify this bird. In nesting season the Willow Flycatcher is found, oddly enough, in willow and riparian habitats. Its call is a loud and oft repeated “fitz-bew” although with long pauses between repetitions. The Alder Flycatcher is found in the same habitat and is very much like the Willow Flycatcher. Its call is “ree-ah,” or “ree-bee-ah.” It is a snappy sound and one must pause to listen because some Willow flycatchers can say “fitz-bew” and a version of “ree-bee-ah.” If it can do both I give it to the Willow. And so there is your mini-workshop on some of the Flycatchers. I haven’t even touched on the more colourful and grand members of the clan but perhaps I will in another column. In the meantime don’t lose your hearing or you won’t be catching any Flycatchers. To e-mail Tom CLICK HERE To look at previous column CLICK HERE |
