From Opus

Photo by Marcel Gauthier
Laprairie, Quebec, Canada, July 2005

Empidonax alnorum

[edit] Identification

5-6" (13-15 cm). Slightly smaller than a House Sparrow. Dull gray-green above, whitish below, with 2 dull white wing bars and narrow white eye ring (often not noticeable).
This is another very difficult Empidonax, and is best identified from similar species by voice, breeding habitat, and nest.

[edit] Similar Species

Indistinguishable in appearance from the Willow Flycatcher, and frequents the same habitats. Distinguished from Willow Flycatcher by voice and in some areas by range.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds from Alaska east through Manitoba to Newfoundland and south to British Columbia, Great Lakes region, and southern New England. Winters in the tropics, from Colombia to Bolivia.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Willows, alders, brushy swamps.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, some fruit in winter.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a coarse, loose cup. The clutch consists of 3-4 creamy white or buff eggs, unmarked or dotted with dark irregular markings around large end.

[edit] Vocalisation

Song: a harsh rreeBEEA

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. All About Birds

• List of references

[edit] External Links