Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

eBird describes the Pacific-slope Flycatcher like this:  Small, yellow-olive flycatcher. Brighter yellow than most other Empidonax flycatchers. Look for bold teardrop-shaped eyering that comes to a point behind the eye, and fluffy, peaked crown. Breeds in coniferous and mixed woodlands, often near water; migrants and wintering birds can be found in a variety of wooded or scrubby habitats. Essentially identical to Cordilleran Flycatcher with very subtle vocal differences; identification is usually presumed based on range.  All About Birds adds this information about the Pacific-slope Flycatcher: An attractive small flycatcher that looks like several other attractive small flycatchers in the genus Empidonax, the Pacific-slope Flycatcher breeds in forests and mountains along the West Coast. It’s a soft greenish brown bird with a bold eyering and two white wingbars, complemented by a bright yellow wash below. The closely related Cordilleran Flycatcher lives in similar habitats in interior western North America—the two were considered the same species, called “Western Flycatcher,” until 1989. Females disguise their nests with moss and lichen, stuck on with bits of spiderweb.

I saw my first Pacific-slope Flycatcher during my visit to the Corn Creek Station north of Las Vegas on the morning of May 22, 2021.  As noted above this little bird is almost identical to the Cordilleran, and is identified mainly by geographic locations.  For my blog post that covers my visit to Corn Creek Station, look here.