Empidonax


The genus Empidonax is a group of small insect-eating passerine birds in the tyrant flycatcher family, the Tyrannidae. The genus name Empidonax is from Ancient Greek empis, "gnat", and anax, "master".
Most of these birds are very similar in plumage: olive on the upper parts with light underparts, eye rings and wing bars. In the nesting season they may be distinguished by range, habitat and call; in other situations, particularly on migration and in winter, it may not be possible to be sure of specific identification.
Empidonax flycatchers often flick their wings and tails rapidly.
Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri and gray-breasted flycatcher, Lathrotriccus griseipectus were formerly placed in Empidonax, but differ anatomically and biochemically and are now placed in the genus Lathrotriccus.

Species

The genus contains 15 species:
ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Empidonax flaviventrisYellow-bellied flycatcherNorth American, Mexico and Central America
Empidonax virescensAcadian flycatchereastern United States and southwestern Ontario, eastern Mexico and the Caribbean to southern Central America and the very northwest of South America in Colombia, western Venezuela, and Ecuador
Empidonax alnorumAlder flycatcherCanada and Alaska, descending to a southernmost point in the northeastern United States
Empidonax trailliiWillow flycatcherUnited States and southern Canada
Empidonax albigularisWhite-throated flycatcherBelize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Empidonax minimusLeast flycatchereastern North America
Empidonax hammondiiHammond's flycatcherwestern United States, Alaska and Canada
Empidonax wrightiiAmerican grey flycatcherwestern North America, especially the Great Basin.
Empidonax oberholseriAmerican dusky flycatchersouthern Arizona and Mexico
Empidonax affinisPine flycatcherMexico and southwestern Guatemala.
Empidonax difficilisPacific-slope flycatcherwestern North America, including the Pacific Ocean and the southern Gulf of California
Empidonax occidentalisCordilleran flycatcherCalifornia to Alaska
Empidonax flavescensYellowish flycatchersoutheastern Mexico south to western Panama.
Empidonax fulvifronsBuff-breasted flycatcherUnited States through Mexico to southern Honduras.
Empidonax atricepsBlack-capped flycatcherCosta Rica and western Panama.