{"id":58258,"date":"2019-05-31T05:50:54","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T11:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=58258"},"modified":"2025-11-10T08:25:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T14:25:06","slug":"calling-willow-flycatcher-hearing-fitz-bew-clinched-the-id","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/31\/calling-willow-flycatcher-hearing-fitz-bew-clinched-the-id\/","title":{"rendered":"Calling Willow Flycatcher – Hearing FITZ-bew Clinched The ID"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CallingCalling Willow Flycatcher – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Empids are small, insect eating birds in the tyrant flycatcher family which can be hard to identify because of similar plumage and overlapping ranges.<\/p>\n

Because of a two part call, FITZ-bew<\/span><\/a>, I had no trouble identifying a flycatcher that I saw, photographed and heard yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains as a Willow Flycatcher.<\/p>\n

The flycatcher flew in close twice and both times landed on the same branch where I was able to take photos of it as it called and it was a delight to be serenaded by this beautiful bird.<\/p>\n

Now, the photos I took of the Willow Flycatcher were not what I would call great because of the out of focus branches and leaves in the frame, especially the one that is behind the flycatcher’s belly.<\/p>\n

I am hopeful that if I return to this same area I may be able to get better photos because it seems that Willow Flycatchers are abundant in that area right now, at least that is what my eyes and ears are telling me.<\/p>\n

Also, since this specific bird landed on this same branch more than one time it may be a favorite perch and I may be able to maneuver my vehicle to another spot where I have a clearer view of it if it were to land on this branch again.\u00a0 I’ll need to check that out.<\/p>\n

I also photographed Yellow Warblers, a Green-tailed Towhee, several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, an adult Red-tailed Hawk, American Goldfinches, some American Robins, plus a single Black-headed Grosbeak.<\/p>\n

I saw and heard more birds than that though which has increased my desire to head back, take my time and to work at finding them all.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Willow Flycatcher photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Because of a two part call, FITZ-bew, I had no trouble identifying a flycatcher that I saw, photographed and heard yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains as a Willow Flycatcher.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":163300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1731,26,773,3805],"tags":[4004,2069,6577,4935,4072,3940,3807,5241,9631,3808,4884,6233,5013,9633,9632,3806],"class_list":["post-58258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","category-willow-flycatchers","tag-adult","tag-blue-sky","tag-branches","tag-call","tag-calling","tag-canyon","tag-empidonax-traillii","tag-empids","tag-fitz-bew","tag-flycatcher","tag-flycatchers","tag-id","tag-identification","tag-perched-mountains","tag-two-part-call","tag-willow-flycatcher"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-calling-mia-mcpherson-2637.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-f9E","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":103623,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/06\/25\/creekside-willow-flycatcher\/","url_meta":{"origin":58258,"position":0},"title":"Creekside 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County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dusky-flycatcher-mia-mcpherson-1524.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dusky-flycatcher-mia-mcpherson-1524.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dusky-flycatcher-mia-mcpherson-1524.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dusky-flycatcher-mia-mcpherson-1524.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89045,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/05\/25\/resting-willow-flycatcher\/","url_meta":{"origin":58258,"position":2},"title":"Resting Willow Flycatcher","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The last time I was up in the Wasatch Mountains I heard several \"FITZ-bew\" calls but didn't see a single Willow Flycatcher out in the open.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Resting adult Willow Flycatcher, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-adult-willows-mia-mcpherson-3700.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-adult-willows-mia-mcpherson-3700.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-adult-willows-mia-mcpherson-3700.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-adult-willows-mia-mcpherson-3700.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73293,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/08\/30\/willow-flycatcher-and-thoughts-about-fall-migration\/","url_meta":{"origin":58258,"position":3},"title":"Willow Flycatcher And Thoughts About Fall Migration","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I took forty-eight photos of this flycatcher three days ago as it watched for flying insects from its perch and I realized that these might be the last Willow Flycatcher photos that I take this year.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Willow Flycatcher hunting prey from a willow perch, Wasatch Mountains, East Canyon, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-a-willow-mia-mcpherson-7699.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-a-willow-mia-mcpherson-7699.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-a-willow-mia-mcpherson-7699.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-in-a-willow-mia-mcpherson-7699.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":104467,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/23\/willow-flycatcher-in-july\/","url_meta":{"origin":58258,"position":4},"title":"Willow Flycatcher In July","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I spent a few minutes with a cooperative adult Willow Flycatcher in a willow thicket high in the Wasatch Mountains.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Willow Flycatcher on a July morning, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/willow-flycatcher-adult-in-july-mia-mcpherson-7074.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/willow-flycatcher-adult-in-july-mia-mcpherson-7074.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/willow-flycatcher-adult-in-july-mia-mcpherson-7074.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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