What does the Least Flycatcher song sound like?

Empidonax minimus

Song common

Play the real Least Flycatcher song, the "che-BEK! che-BEK!", and learn what to listen for.

“che-BEK! che-BEK!”

What the Least Flycatcher song sounds like

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

“che-BEK! che-BEK!”

Birders often file this one under Primary song.

How to find the bird singing it

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.

Bold eye ring: Crisp, complete white eye ring forms a distinct ‘spectacled’ look.
Short, flat bill: Small, dark upper mandible with yellow-orange lower mandible contrasts with longer bills of other Empidonax.
Olive-gray upperparts: Neutral olive-gray back and crown lack strong contrast; faint wingbars on dark wings.

When you'll hear it

Spring arrival

Floods north late April–May; males establish song colonies and sing nearly nonstop.

Breeding (Summer)

Pairs nest May–July; females build a cup of grasses 2–8 m high in a deciduous sapling.

Fall migration

Quiet flocks drift south Aug–Sep, often with warblers; calls become sparse ‘whit.’

Winter

Spends Nov–Mar in tropical forest edges from S. Mexico to Panama, largely silent.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Willow Flycatcher

Longer, broader bill with entirely pale lower mandible.

Least Flycatcher song FAQ

What does a Least Flycatcher song sound like?

A sharp, two-syllable whistle repeated every 2–3 seconds, often incessantly at dawn. Birders write it as "che-BEK! che-BEK!".

How do I tell a Least Flycatcher from a Alder Flycatcher by ear?

Alder Flycatcher: Alder’s song is a harsh two-syllable “fee-BEE-o” unlike Least’s crisp “che-BEK.”; Alder shows a slightly longer primary projection and greener back in fresh plumage..

When is the best time to hear the Least Flycatcher song?

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.

More Least Flycatcher sounds

Least Flycatcher: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?