{"id":68319,"date":"2020-04-13T06:50:39","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T12:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=68319"},"modified":"2025-11-10T09:53:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:53:32","slug":"photographing-willow-flycatchers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/04\/13\/photographing-willow-flycatchers\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographing Willow Flycatchers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdultAdult Willow Flycatcher perched on a hawthorn \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

To photograph Willow Flycatchers you have to find them which means you need to be in their range<\/span><\/a> and in their habitat which during the breeding season includes lakeshores, streams, swamps, riparian zones, creeks, and areas with stands of willows near running or standing water.<\/p>\n

Once I’m in Willow Flycatcher habitat the next thing I do is to listen for them. I often hear Willow Flycatchers before I see them because they can blend into their habitat well.<\/p>\n

Note: Empids can be hard to ID because they all look so much alike but with Willow Flycatchers their FITZ-bew calls<\/span><\/a> can clinch the ID.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Willow Flycatcher close up \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

For years I would hear Willow Flycatchers in some of the Wasatch Mountain canyons I go to and sometimes I’d even catch a glimpse of them way off in the distance. Infrequently I’d see them up close but they would be gone by the time I could get set up to photograph them.<\/p>\n

From experience I know that just driving through their territory isn’t going to get me the photos I want. I have to make more of an effort than that or never get the photos I desire.<\/p>\n

I have learned to locate these flycatchers by using my eyes and ears and once I hear or see them I stop and observe them. From personal observations of this species I know that Willow Flycatchers often have a favorite perch or perches within their territories.<\/p>\n

If I am am able to locate their favorite perch close enough to the road I can move my “mobile blind” near it, park, be patient, watch, and wait for the flycatcher to fly back in.<\/p>\n

Some people? They simply don’t have the patience that requires.<\/p>\n

Note: I am usually on dirt and gravel back roads and I always pull off of the roads as far as I can so I don’t obstruct traffic. Part of that is about being safe and the other is so I can focus primarily on the birds and not so much on any vehicles that might get close to me.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"RestingResting adult Willow Flycatcher in willows \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This approach in addition to using a “mobile blind” has functioned effectively for me but I have to say that being patient and observant are primary keys. I do have to wait for the flycatchers to come back in and that can take a while.<\/p>\n

There are times I need to move the “mobile blind” around a little so that I can get clear and unobstructed views of the Willow Flycatchers on their favorite perch or perches. I usually do that after they have flown off in search of prey or to chase other flycatchers out of their territory.<\/p>\n

Willow Flycatchers will soon be winging their way into northern Utah and I am looking forward to their return.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

Note: This approach also works with other bird species that use favorite perches.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Once I’m in Willow Flycatcher habitat the next thing I do is to listen for them. I often hear Willow Flycatchers before I see them because they can blend into their habitat well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":163327,"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":[4004,6943,2304,3940,4142,3807,5241,6561,3808,4884,683,6566,9628,9627,4124,4069,8300,4156,9626,9629,298,3806,902],"class_list":["post-68319","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-approach","tag-calls","tag-canyon","tag-close-up","tag-empidonax-traillii","tag-empids","tag-favorite-perch","tag-flycatcher","tag-flycatchers","tag-habitat-2","tag-hawthorn","tag-listen","tag-locate","tag-mobile-blind","tag-mountains","tag-photographing","tag-resting","tag-riparian-habitat","tag-tips","tag-tyrant-flycatchers-2","tag-willow-flycatcher","tag-willows"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/willow-flycatcher-habitat-mia-mcpherson-6673.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-hLV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":103623,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/06\/25\/creekside-willow-flycatcher\/","url_meta":{"origin":68319,"position":0},"title":"Creekside 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