Black-capped Flycatcher

Empidonax atriceps

eBird describes the Black-capped Flycatcher like this:  Small flycatcher, darker than other similar species, with particularly noteworthy black cap and teardrop-shaped white eyering. Dull brownish wingbars. Sexes alike. A mountain species, found in a variety of habitats, usually an open forest edge or brushy clearing. Listen for the “pip” call.

The Birds of the World website introduces this bird with the following descriptive information:  Amongst a relatively nondescript and difficult-to-identify group of species, the Black-capped Flycatcher is a rather distinctive bird. It is a restricted-range species that is found in the Costa Rica and Panama Highlands Endemic Bird Area, as defined by BirdLife International, and is found at elevations between 1850 and 3300 m, with some evidence of seasonal altitudinal migrations. The Black-capped Flycatcher is characterized by its dusky-black wings, tail, and crown, the former with two white wing bars and the second with clean white sides. There is a clean white eye-ring, a pale throat, otherwise dark upperparts, and pale buffish-cinnamon underparts. Like other Empidonax, it feeds on insects, usually selecting an exposed perch to search for prey.

I met my first Black-capped Flycatcher late on the morning of February 9, 2023, as our Tropical Birding Tour group was heading to higher elevations.  I am one of those poor souls that has lots of trouble telling flycatchers apart, but, because of the dark head and being endemic to specific altitudes, this one was an easy call, especially for the more experienced members of our group.  Once again my photo was not up to standards, just barely enough to identify the bird so I could place it on my life list.