Watercolor portrait of Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus
common Primary song

Learn to identify the Least Flycatcher by ear. Master the "che-BEK! che-BEK!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“che-BEK! che-BEK!”

What the Least Flycatcher sounds like

A sharp, two-syllable whistle repeated every 2–3 seconds, often incessantly at dawn.

How to tell it apart

Listen for: “che-BEK! che-BEK!”
Don't confuse with the Alder Flycatcher. Alder’s song is a harsh, burry “fee-BEE-o” or “free-BEER,” unlike Least’s crisp, dry “che-BEK.”

Lessons featuring the Least Flycatcher

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Least Flycatcher's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.

Flycatchers That Say Their Names lesson habitat
Flycatchers That Say Their Names
Tier 4 · Songbirds & Sky Watch
Empid Escape Room lesson habitat
Empid Escape Room
Tier 6 · After Hours
Empid ID Bootcamp lesson habitat
Empid ID Bootcamp
Tier 12 · By Pitch and Pace
Start Learning Free

Where you'll hear it

Breeds across southern Canada and the northern United States; migrates through the central and eastern U.S.; winters from southern Mexico to northern Panama.

Deciduous and mixed-wood forest edges, orchards, shelterbelts, wooded parks, and streamside thickets; prefers stands with a semi-open understory and scattered tall perch trees.

Arrives on breeding grounds from late April through May; males sing vigorously and defend tiny territories through July. Post-breeding dispersal begins in August, with most gone by mid-September. Winters quietly in tropical forest edges and shade-coffee plantations.

How to recognize it by sight

The Least Flycatcher is the smallest and most compact of North America’s notoriously tricky Empidonax flycatchers. A stubby bill, bold white eye ring, and crisp, short “che-bek” song help set it apart in the breeding season. It hawks tiny insects from exposed perches in open deciduous woods, orchards, and wooded neighborhoods.

Similar species

Alder Flycatcher

Alder’s song is a harsh, burry “fee-BEE-o” or “free-BEER,” unlike Least’s crisp, dry “che-BEK.”

Willow Flycatcher

Longer, broader bill with entirely pale lower mandible.

Hammond’s Flycatcher

More western montane species; longer primary projection.

Least Flycatcher song FAQ

What does a Least Flycatcher sound like?
A sharp, two-syllable whistle repeated every 2–3 seconds, often incessantly at dawn. Listen for the "che-BEK! che-BEK!" phrase.
How do I tell a Least Flycatcher from an Alder Flycatcher by sound?
Alder Flycatcher: Alder’s song is a harsh, burry “fee-BEE-o” or “free-BEER,” unlike Least’s crisp, dry “che-BEK.”
When is the best time to hear a Least Flycatcher?
Arrives on breeding grounds from late April through May; males sing vigorously and defend tiny territories through July. Post-breeding dispersal begins in August, with most gone by mid-September. Winters quietly in tropical forest edges and shade-coffee plantations.