Southwestern Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

Kingdom: Animalia

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Tyrannidae

Listing Status:   

Quick links:Federal RegisterRecoveryCritical HabitatConservation PlansPetitionsLife HistoryOther Resources

General Information

Small; usually a little less than 6 inches in length, including tail. Conspicuous light-colored wingbars. Lacks the conspicuous pale eye-ring of many similar Empidonax species. Overall, body brownish-olive to gray-green above. Throat whitish, breast pale olive, and belly yellowish. Bill relatively large; lower mandible completely pale. Best identified by vocalizations. Call a liquid, sharply whistled whit! or a dry sprrit; song a sneezy witch-pew or fitz-bew. While perched, characteristically flicks tail slightly upward.

• States/US Territories in which the Southwestern Willow flycatcher is known to occur:  Arizona , California , Colorado , Nevada , New Mexico , Texas , Utah
• USFWS Refuges in which the Southwestern Willow flycatcher is known to occur:  BILL WILLIAMS RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , COLORADO RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA , HAVASU NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IMPERIAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MAXWELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SAN DIEGO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SEVILLETA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  
• Countries in which the the Southwestern Willow flycatcher is known to occur:  Mexico
• For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Southwes.htm

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Habitat Requirements

For nesting, requires dense riparian habitats with microclimatic conditions dictated by the local surroundings. Saturated soils, standing water, or nearby streams, pools, or cienegas are a component of nesting habitat that also influcences the microclimate and density of the vegetation component. Habitat not suitable for nesting may be used for migration and foraging.

Food Habits

Primarily flying insects.

Movement / Home Range

The flycatcher is a summer breeder within its range in the United States. It is gone to wintering areas in Central America by the end of September. Nest territories are set up for breeding, and there is some site fidelity to nest territories.

Reproductive Strategy

Arrives on breeding grounds in late April to early May. Nesting begins in late May and early June, with fledging from late June to mid-August. Typically lay 3-4 eggs per clutch, laid at one day intervals and are incubated by the female for about 12 days. Young birds fledge 12-13 days after hatching. Typically only raise one brood per year; however some pairs will raise a second brood, or renest after a nest failure.

Other

Loss and degradation of dense riparian habitats are the primary habitat threat to the flycatcher. Historically, water developments that altered flows in the rivers and streams were the primary threat. Now, with riparian areas limited and re-growth difficult due to changes in flows, fire is a significant risk to remaining habitats. Human disturbances at nesting sites may result in nest abandonment.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.