Watercolor portrait of Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii
Uncommon to locally common Fitz-bew, plus a rising zrrrit

Learn to identify the Willow Flycatcher by ear. Master the "FITZ-bew" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“FITZ-bew… zrrr-IT!”

What the Willow Flycatcher sounds like

The sneezy FITZ-bew keeps returning, but now and then a rough zrrr-IT shoots upward between songs.

How to tell it apart

Listen for: “FITZ-bew”
Don't confuse with the Alder Flycatcher. Song is a burry ‘fee-BEE-o’ or ‘free-BEER,’ not the sneezy ‘FITZ-bew’.

Lessons featuring the Willow Flycatcher

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

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 much of the United States and southern Canada; winters in Central America and northern South America.

Dense, shrubby habitats near water such as willow thickets, riparian corridors, wet meadows, swamp edges, and overgrown beaver ponds.

Arrives on breeding grounds late spring (May–June), nests through July, departs by early September for tropical wintering areas.

How to recognize it by sight

A small, inconspicuous flycatcher famous for its explosive 'FITZ-bew' song. Plain olive-brown above and whitish below with a faint olive wash on the breast, it lacks the contrasting eye-ring and yellowish tones shown by many Empidonax relatives. Identification relies heavily on voice, habitat, and subtle structure.

Similar species

Alder Flycatcher

Song is a burry ‘fee-BEE-o’ or ‘free-BEER,’ not the sneezy ‘FITZ-bew’.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Noticeably longer wings and primary projection.

Least Flycatcher

Bold, complete white eye-ring.

Willow Flycatcher song FAQ

What does a Willow Flycatcher sound like?
The sneezy FITZ-bew keeps returning, but now and then a rough zrrr-IT shoots upward between songs. Listen for the "FITZ-bew" phrase.
How do I tell a Willow Flycatcher from an Alder Flycatcher by sound?
Alder Flycatcher: Song is a burry ‘fee-BEE-o’ or ‘free-BEER,’ not the sneezy ‘FITZ-bew’. Habitat can hint—Alders often use wet alder or bog edges—but overlap is broad enough that voice remains the safest field separator.
When is the best time to hear a Willow Flycatcher?
Arrives on breeding grounds late spring (May–June), nests through July, departs by early September for tropical wintering areas.