Acadian Flycatcher

This little birds could be heard in a forest near my home this morning. Enjoy is song

The Acadian Flycatcher is a small, insect-eating songbird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family. It’s one of the more distinctive members of the notoriously tricky Empidonax genus, known for its subtle plumage differences and challenging field identification. Adults are olive-green above with whitish underparts, accented by two pale wingbars and a thin white eyering. Their broad, flat bill is dark on top and orange-yellow below—perfectly adapted for snatching insects mid-flight .

🏞 Habitat and Range

This species breeds in mature deciduous forests across the eastern United States and parts of southeastern Canada, favoring areas near streams, swamps, and ravines. During winter, it migrates to lowland tropical forests in Central and South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador . Its preference for undisturbed forest makes it a reliable indicator of ecosystem health.

🎶 Behavior and Vocalizations

The Acadian Flycatcher is best known for its explosive, two-parted song—often described as “ker-chip!” or “peet-sah!”—which rings through shady forest understories in summer. Males sing persistently to defend territories and attract mates. These birds forage by perching quietly and then darting out to catch flying insects, or hovering to glean prey from foliage .