Watercolor portrait of Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)

Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri
A summer bird of western North America,… Look for it in open mountain woods, brus… Uncommon Breeding song

Learn to identify the Dusky Flycatcher by ear. Master the "whit-SEET!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“whit-SEET!”

What the Dusky Flycatcher sounds like

The Dusky Flycatcher is a small, plain-looking flycatcher with soft gray-brown plumage and a gentle, alert expression. In the field, it feels neat and understated—perched upright on a shrub, flicking out after insects, then popping back to the same twig.

“whit-SEET!”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A quick, dry little phrase that rises and snaps off. Males give it from a shrub top or low snag in spring and summer. Often written as “whit-SEET!”.
Don't confuse with:The Hammond's Flycatcher — hammond's usually looks more compact, with a shorter tail and a bigger-headed, small-billed look.

Where you'll hear it

Look for it in open mountain woods, brushy slopes, streamside thickets, and shrubby forest edges across the interior West. It likes places with scattered trees and a healthy tangle of low shrubs.

Most noticeable in spring and summer, when males sing from exposed perches and pairs nest in shrubs. In migration, it can seem quiet and easily overlooked unless it gives its sharp call.

Similar species

Hammond's Flycatcher

Hammond's usually looks more compact, with a shorter tail and a bigger-headed, small-billed look.

Gray Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher is paler and cleaner-looking overall, often with a longer tail.

Cordilleran/Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Those species look brighter olive above and yellower below.

Dusky Flycatcher song FAQ

What does a Dusky Flycatcher sound like?
A quick, dry little phrase that rises and snaps off. Males give it from a shrub top or low snag in spring and summer. Listen for the "whit-SEET!" phrase.
How do I tell a Dusky Flycatcher from a Hammond's Flycatcher by sound?
Hammond's Flycatcher: Hammond's usually looks more compact, with a shorter tail and a bigger-headed, small-billed look.; Hammond's often shows a stronger teardrop-shaped eye ring and crisper wing bars.; Dusky typically has a longer bill and a softer, more evenly gray-brown face..
When is the best time to hear a Dusky Flycatcher?
Most noticeable in spring and summer, when males sing from exposed perches and pairs nest in shrubs. In migration, it can seem quiet and easily overlooked unless it gives its sharp call.