Empidonax flaviventris
adult
From Alamy: Glenn Bartley/All Canada Photos/Alamy Stock Photo: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher adopts an upright stance when perched. Like related Empidonax species, it has a relatively large head and short tail. The sexes are similar. Adults have dull yellowish-green upperparts, and paler yellowish underparts with a darker band across the breast. The head has a pale eyering and the bill’s lower mandible is dull pinkish orange. Compared to the rest of the plumage, the wings are dark, with two white wingbars and pale fringes to the inner flight feathers. Juveniles are similar to adults, although brighter overall and with yellowish, not white, wingbars.
The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is present as a breeding species from June to August across northern latitudes of North America. It spends the rest of the year in Central and South America. In the breeding season it favors boreal forests, especially dense growths of spruce. Although not shy, it likes to perch in shade, making it easily overlooked; listen for its call and song to detect its presence.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.5 in (14 cm)
FOOD Insects and other invertebrates
HABITAT Northern forests
STATUS Widespread and locally common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a shrill, two-note tchWeek. Call is a whistled tchWwee
