Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Grass or Field/Pasture or Sedge Meadow)
adjacent to:
      (Upland Brush or Lowland Brush)

2nd alternative:
      (Upland Brush or Lowland Brush)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Willow Flycatchers live in brushy old field habitats, along the edges of woods, rights-of-way, and in brushy edges of marshes and swamps, especially in shrubby old fields and in wetlands with willow thickets or other shrubs. They occur into drier upland habitats than Alder Flycatchers but coexist with them in wetter habitats. Willow Flycatchers tend to live in areas that are more open than those occupied by Alder Flycatchers.

Habitat: Breeding: Prefers open, newly clearcut areas, damp to dry brushy fields, woodland edges, hedgerows, roadsides, and orchards. Frequents uplands and lowlands.

Special Habitat Requirements: Low trees and shrubs with clearings (edges)

Habitat: Bushes, willow thickets, brushy fields, upland copses. Breeds in thickets of deciduous trees and shrubs, especially willows, or along woodland edges. Often near streams or marshes (especially in southern part of range), but may be found in drier habitats than Alder Flycatcher.

Diet: Mostly insects. Differences in diet, if any, between this species and Alder Flycatcher are not well known. Apparently eats mostly insects, including wasps, bees, winged ants, beetles, flies, caterpillars, moths, true bugs, and others. Also eats some spiders, a few berries, and possibly some seeds.

Nest: Site is in a deciduous shrub or tree, especially in willow, 4-15 feet above the ground. Placed in a vertical or diagonal fork of a branch or on top of a horizontal branch. Nest is an open cup of grass, strips of bark, plant fibers, lined with plant down and other soft materials. Nest often has strips of plant material dangling from the bottom.