{"id":15123,"date":"2014-06-02T04:53:17","date_gmt":"2014-06-02T10:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=15123"},"modified":"2024-06-17T05:13:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T10:13:46","slug":"least-flycatcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/06\/02\/least-flycatcher\/","title":{"rendered":"Least Flycatcher"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LeastLeast Flycatcher in Idaho – Nikon D300, f8, 1\/400, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was going to do a post today on the wrens that were using the same nesting tree as the Williamson’s Sapsuckers<\/a><\/span> that I posted yesterday but after culling 3290 images I was flat worn out, I’ll do that post tomorrow hopefully.<\/p>\n

Today I am posting what I believe to be a Least Flycatcher that was perched in an evergreen along a road in Idaho. \u00a0I might be mistaken on the ID so any help would be appreciated. I don’t feel bad about not being certain of the ID because even experts have a hard time with empids. I can rule out several empids because of their geographic ranges but that leaves Least, Hammond’s, Dusky, Gray, Cordilleran and Pacific-slope Flycatchers.<\/p>\n

I think I can rule out Willow because they are brownish and have a weak eyering and my bird has\u00a0a strong eyering. I think I can rule out Hammond’s because they have a long primary projection (wing tip length) \u00a0and my empid seems to have a short primary projection. I’ve photographed Gray Flycatchers and this bird was smaller plus it didn’t wag its tail up and down like Gray Flycatchers do. Dusky Flycatchers have low contrast edges on their wing feathers and my bird has contrasting dark tertials and coverts with light edges. Pacific-slope Flycatchers are rare in the area that I photographed this bird so I believe I can rule it out.<\/p>\n

So that leaves Cordilleran and Least Flycatchers. Sibley’s Guide to birds shows the Cordilleran as being brownish-olive overall with the brownest coloration on the rump while my bird is mostly gray with olive on its back which is how Sibley describes the Least Flycatcher.<\/p>\n

Whether I am right or wrong with my ID on this empid I know that I am not alone in the empid ID enigma!<\/p>\n

Addendum<\/span>: I was asked about the range map for Least Flycatchers being in Idaho, I’m attaching a screen shot of a map my friend Terry did for Least Flycatchers that shows the range extending just into the tip of Clark County, Idaho which is where I photographed this bird just a few miles south of the Montana state line. Terry’s full range map can be seen<\/em> here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"clark-county-idaho-least-flycatcher\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

PS, I am pretty sure I heard the “chewbek” call of the Least Flycatcher while photographing other subjects near this bird.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I am posting what I believe to be a Least Flycatcher that was perched in an evergreen along a road in Idaho.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":129542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,2578,2244,2581],"tags":[4004,5240,5237,2584,2583,5241,5239,3808,4884,5370,2582,165,5238,5236],"class_list":["post-15123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-clark-county","category-idaho","category-least-flycatchers","tag-adult","tag-chewbek","tag-conifer","tag-empid-id","tag-empidonax-minimus","tag-empids","tag-eyering","tag-flycatcher","tag-flycatchers","tag-forest","tag-least-flycatcher","tag-spring","tag-tertials","tag-tryrant-flycatchers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/least-flycatcher-mia-mcpherson-1694.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3VV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47460,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/27\/perched-gray-flycatcher-eating-a-damselfly\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":0},"title":"Perched Gray Flycatcher Eating A Damselfly","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As I watched the Gray Flycatcher it flew towards me, snatched a damselfly from mid air then landed on a dead branch not too far away and proceeded to eat it while I photographed the bird.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Flycatcher with Damselfly","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfy-mia-mcpherson-utah-8063.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfy-mia-mcpherson-utah-8063.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfy-mia-mcpherson-utah-8063.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfy-mia-mcpherson-utah-8063.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13870,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/01\/26\/gray-flycatcher-at-bear-river-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":1},"title":"Gray Flycatcher at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Gray Flycatchers are generally found in sagebrush and arid busy habitats so it was a real treat to see this one in the marshy habitat of the refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Flycatcher eating a Damselfly, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfly-utah-mia-mcpherson-8065.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfly-utah-mia-mcpherson-8065.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfly-utah-mia-mcpherson-8065.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-damselfly-utah-mia-mcpherson-8065.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71975,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/16\/adult-willow-flycatcher-perched-in-a-serviceberry\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":2},"title":"Adult Willow Flycatcher Perched In A Serviceberry","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Obtaining decent photos of Willow Flycatchers in the Wasatch Mountains has been harder and more challenging for me this year than last and there are a few reasons for that.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Willow Flycatcher perched in a serviceberry shrub, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-5625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-5625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-5625.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-5625.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92806,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/08\/01\/summer-willow-flycatcher-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":3},"title":"Summer Willow Flycatcher Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I was able to spend time taking Willow Flycatcher photos high in the mountains with clear skies overhead as I watched the flycatchers hunting for prey.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Willow Flycatcher resting on a fence, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-on-barbed-wire-mia-mcpherson-1646.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-on-barbed-wire-mia-mcpherson-1646.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-on-barbed-wire-mia-mcpherson-1646.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-on-barbed-wire-mia-mcpherson-1646.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60091,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/09\/08\/gray-flycatcher-perched-in-fragrant-sumac\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":4},"title":"Gray Flycatcher Perched In Fragrant Sumac","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"As it turns out this flycatcher gave me a wonderful behavioral clue that made identifying it a little easier for me because I watched it wag its tail slowly up and down repeatedly while perched which Gray Flycatchers are known to do.","rel":"","context":"In "Bird ID"","block_context":{"text":"Bird ID","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/bird-identification\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Flycatcher in Fragrant Sumac, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-fragrant-sumac-mia-mcpherson-2906.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-fragrant-sumac-mia-mcpherson-2906.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-fragrant-sumac-mia-mcpherson-2906.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/gray-flycatcher-fragrant-sumac-mia-mcpherson-2906.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1221,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/11\/06\/juvenile-flycatchers\/","url_meta":{"origin":15123,"position":5},"title":"Juvenile Flycatchers – Mystery Identification","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 6, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Near the camp site one afternoon I could hear tiny peeping sounds in the pines and I went to investigate, the sweet calls were coming from these juvenile Flycatchers.","rel":"","context":"In "Bird ID"","block_context":{"text":"Bird ID","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/bird-identification\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile flycatchers in the high Uinta Mountains, Ashley National Forest, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flycatchers-mia-mcpherson-juveniles-5631.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flycatchers-mia-mcpherson-juveniles-5631.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flycatchers-mia-mcpherson-juveniles-5631.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flycatchers-mia-mcpherson-juveniles-5631.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}