The Alder Flycatcher is a flycatcher
found in the Empidonax genus along with the
Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least
Flycatcher, and the Acadian Flycatcher. All of these
species share a similar look and build and it is very
hard to tell the difference between the five species.
All five birds have a greenish-gray back with a paler
breast that may have a small amount of yellow coloring.
They also have two white wing bars and eye ring. What's
even more interesting is that experts cannot tell the
difference between the Willow and the Alder Flycatcher
even when they are in their hand. The only certain way
to tell the difference between the five species is to
listen to their call and the Alder Flycatcher's call is
a sharp "rreeBa".
HABITAT/DIET
The Alder Flycatcher is mainly
found in secondary forests mad up of mainly young trees or even
shrubs near a water body. These birds are mainly seen in areas that
have been clear cut in recent years so they are widely seen in areas
were their has been a lot of logging. Their range goes up into
Canada and it's southern most range is found in the North-eastern
United Sates and is seen in Western New York during the summer. The
Alder flycatcher will migrate south starting in August and will
return in the spring usually in March. Most of the Alder Flycatcher's food is caught on the
wing or they will take insects that are seen in a twig or leaf also
called gleaning. Where there is no competition they will prefer to
glean insects from a plant rather than fly to catch it. They eat a
variety of insects including bees, wasps, flies, beetles and
butterflies.
BEHAVIOR
Alder Flycatchers are not generally an aggressive
bird they will however give alarm calls, flick their tails, and
raise the small crest on their head to ward away a predator,
especially from their nest. It is interesting to note that when
observers in the field saw competitions for a nesting sight between
a Willow and the Alder Flycatchers the Willow Flycatcher was usually
the dominant bird and chased the Alder Flycatcher out of the
territory.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
These birds will usually start nest building and lay
3-4 eggs by the middle of June and into July. Both the male and the
female help with incubation. After the eggs have hatched both
parents continue to take care of the young and about 14 days after
hatching the young will fledge and leave the nest.
