Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Myiarchus ("fly ruler") crinitus ("long haired")

 

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 27-40g  /  Length: 17-21cm  /  Wingspan: 34cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The only one of Costa Rica's five regular myiarchus flycatchers to be migratory, spending Summers in Eastern USA and Canada, then returning to Central America for the Winter. It is differentiated from the other species visually by a pink base to its bill, barred wings and reddish on the tail and wings.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiarchus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Copetón Viajero 
A common and widespread winter visitor
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Mionectes ("having too little") oleagineus ("olive coloured")

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Mionectes oleagineus assimilis
Weight: 7.5-18.5g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A rather plain and drab flycatcher of the Neotropics with the bulk of it's range comprising the Amazon Rainforest. Unusually, it has a mixed breeding strategy, where roughly half the population finds mates via leks where they display communally, while the other half find mates solo.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Mionectes
SUBSPECIES: M. o . assimilis, M. o. parcus, M. o. abdominalis, M. o. pallidiventris, M. o. dorsalis, M. o. pacificus, M. o. oleagineus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Mosquerito Aceitunado
A common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Myiarchus ("fly ruler") tuberculifer ("small bump") 

Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiarchus tuberculifer nigricapillus
Weight: 14-27g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species found from the Southern US to Brazil and Argentina, they are quite variable across the range with some populations having the namesake "dusky" cap as near black while in other it is brown. An unusually altitudinally variable species, it ranges from sea level to in some parts of its range, nearly 3000m!
 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiarchus
SUBSPECIES: M. t. olivascens, M. t. lawrenceii, M. t. querulous, M. t. platyrhynchus, M. t. manens, M. t. connectens, M. t. littoralis, M. t. nigricapillus, M. t. brunneiceps, M. t. pallidus, M. t. tuberculifer, M. t. nigriceps, M. t. atriceps

 

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Copetón Crestioscuro
A widespread and common resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") flaviventris ("yellow bellied")

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) at Location, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8.5-17g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

With a breeding range comprising most of Canadas wet boreal forests as well as and Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, then migrating to Central America in Winter. They nest near ground level in cup like strucutres made of sphagnum moss. 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Mosquero Ventriamarillo

A widespread Wintering species.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Streaked Flycatcher
Latin Etymology: Myiodynastes ("fly ruler") maculatus maculatus ("spotted")  

Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiodynastes maculatus difficilis
Weight: 35-50g  /  Length: 20-23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A species with unresolved taxonomy, with the solitarius subspecies possibly representing it's own species known as the Southern Streaked Flycatcher. They are a larger flycatcher species and will target larger prey such as cicadas, locusts and beetles, as well as small lizards on occasion. They prefer the edges of forests but are not selective about the type being found from mangroves to over 1000ft in altitude.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiodynastes

SUBSPECIES: M. insolens, M. m. difficilis, M. m. nobilis, M. m. chapmani, M. m. maculatus,M. m. tobagensis, M. m. solitarius 

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Mosquero Listado ("Striped Flycatcher")
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") atriceps ("dark head")

Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps) at San Gerardo de Dota - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 9g /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An endemic of the Talamancan Montane Forests in Costa Rica and Panama, they are found above 1850m, particularly in Oak Forests, and are largely sedentary, although their may be some seasonal altitudinal movement. As is usual for empidonax flycatchers, it hunts by hawking from a set post to catch insects in flight.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Mosquero Cabecinegro
Common in Montane Forests
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Ficedula (a small fig eating bird in Latin) semitorquata ("semicollared")   

Adult female Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata) near Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8-17g  /  Length: 12-13.5cm  /  Wingspan: 23-24cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A typical black and white flycatcher whose bredng range is centred on Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Caucasus and North East Iran, migrating largely to an area in the vicinity of Lake Victoria in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A specialist of mountainous deciduous forests, it prefers oak and hornbeam. The name describes the plumage of adult males, which, in contrast to its relations the pied and collared flycatchers, has a white band that goes most of the way round its neck but doesnt quite meet in the back. The female can be identified by having two wing bars. 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Ficedula
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

TURKEY  - Turkish: Alaca sinekkapan ("Pied Flycatcher")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Several at different sites near Side

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

OTHER NAMES: Chebec, Chebecker
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") minimus ("smallest")

Adult Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest member of the infamous Empidonax flycatcher complex in Eastern North America. They migrate to Central America for Winter.  While they can be differentiated in the field visually by experienced birders, I must admit I relied on audio recognition software to confirm the ID based on it's more distinctive song.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds primarily in Northern Border States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Several in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") alnorum (of the alders)

Adult Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) at Potter's Marsh, Anchorage - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 12-14g/kg  /  Length: 13-17cm  /  Wingspan: 8.3-9.3cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A member of the notoriously difficult to differentiate empidonax genus, the alder flycatcher is most easily differentiated by it's call which sounds like it's calling "free beer!". As the name suggests, they breed in wet thickets of alder as well as maple and birch. It's closest relative is the Willow Flycatcher although outside of migration their overlap zone is comparatively small.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and the North East of the Lower 48. Passage elsewhere.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Several seen near  Anchorage, Alaska 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") traillii (named for Thomas Stewart Traill)

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) at San Jose - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: 13.5g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
 NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The willow flycatcher is a widely distributed member of the infamous Empidonax genus, and is found throughout much of the continental USA. In the field, it is only clearly distinguishable from the Alder flycatcher by song, but that species isn't found regularly in California and most of it's breeding range is in Canada. This individual was seen when caught in mist nets by authorised handlers in San Jose, and was the only individual of the species we saw during the week.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: E. t. adastus, E. t. brewsteri, E. t. extimus, E. t. traillii

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Found widely across most of the Northern Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)

OTHER NAMES: Western Flycatcher (former combined species name) 
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") difficilis ("difficult")

 

Adult Pacific Slope Flycatcher (subspecies E. d. difficilis) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Empidonax difficilis difficilis
Weight: 9-12g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: 20-23cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species of the infamously hard to identify "empid" complex, they are unrelated to the old world flycatchers and are in fact a part of the Tyrannides clade - a group found exclusively in the Americas that contains a diverse range of colourful species. This species' closest relative is the Cordilleran Flycatcher, which is was formerly considered part of the same species (the Western Flycatcher) but is at a point where the two species are considered indistinguishable in the field, only separated by voice of the male.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: E. d. difficilis, E. d. insulicola, E. d. cineritius

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds along West Coast States including Alaskan panhandle.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley and San Jose

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Muscicapa ("Fly catch") dauurica ("of Dauria")

Adult Asian Brown Flycatcher (uncertain subspecies) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Probably Muscicapa dauurica siamensis
Weight: 11g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 19-21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If I'm being realistic here, the Asian Brown Flycatcher is not the most distinctive of birds - it certainly has the characteristic Flycatcher behaviour and stance, but anything named "brown" tends to be one of the less, shall we say, charismatic members of it's family.  We saw this species twice, once within the ruins of Ta Prohm, and a second time on the outskirts of Siem Reap.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Muscicapa
SUBSPECIES: M. d. dauurica, M. d. siamensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបសុីរុយខ្នងត្នោត

A resident and migrant

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - One near outskirts of Siem Reap, one at Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

OTHER NAMES: Pied Flycatcher

Latin Etymology: Ficedula (a small fig eating bird in Latin) hypoleuca ("white beneath")

Male European Pied Flycatcher (subspecies F. n. hypoleuca) at Bassenthrwaite Lake, Cumbria - June 2022

Featured Subspecies: Ficedula hypoleuca hypoleuca

Weight: 10-15g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Pied Flycatcher is one of the species in the UK that is mostly limited to the West and North of the UK, it generally prefers old oak-woodland.  This means it tends to be mostly found in Wales, Northern England and Scotland.  However, as a migrant, it can be theoretically seen on passage anywhere, as was the case with this female/juvenile bird seen in the gardens of Alexandra Palace.  The adult male is much more distinctive - being a bold black and white species, and as such is probably a bit easier to pick out when you see them.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Ficedula
Subspecies: F. h. hypoleuca, F. h. iberiae, S. h. sibirica

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common in the North and West as a Summer Breeding Migrant (17,000-20,000 pairs). 

 - Single female/juvenile bird seen on passage at Alexandra Palace (September 2015), .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

OTHER NAMES: Wheatear, European Wheatear, Common Wheatear

Latin Etymology: Oenanthe ("vine bloom" - for the time of year they appeared) oenanthe ("vine bloom")

Right: Adult male Northern Wheatear (subspecies O. o. oenanthe) near Keswick, Cumbria - April 2011

Right: Adult female Northern Wheatear (subspecies O. o. oenanthe) at Rainham Marshes, London - October 2010

Featured Subspecies: Oenananthe oenanthe oenanthe
Weight: 24g  /  Length: 14.5-16cm  /  Wingspan: 29cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The wheatear is found mainly on upland habitat and as such, getting to such a habitat in the first place is the main concern. It is also a summer only migrant further limiting the chance of seeing them. I was lucky enough to catch this bird on passage at Rainham, where they frequently pass through in spring and autumn. Otherwise I've seen this species at Trevose Head, Gravesend, Hayeswater and Keswick - essentially anywhere that has fairly low ground cover of heather, grasses and gorse, and has prominent rocks for it to stand on. I haven't found this bird too hard to photograph when I have seen it, it seems to be a relatively bold species in general.  This is one of the few British species where 2 subspecies are present - the Greenland race passes through Britain on migration in addition to "O. o. oenanthe" being a breeding species here.

Related species:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Oenanthe
Subspecies: O. o. leucorhoa, O. o. ernanthe, O. o. libanotica, O. i. seebohmi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common breeding Migrant (240,000 pairs - ssp. O. o. oenanthe) and rare passage migrant (ssp. leucorhoa)

 - Birds seen on passage at Rainham Marshes and Trevose Head. Also on breeding grounds at Keswick and Hayeswater.

SPAIN - Spanish - Collalba gris ("Grey Wheatear")

A common Summer migrant, common on passage.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Numerous in the countryside in April, a particularly showy individual at Arrocampo.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Muscicapa ("Fly catch") striata ("striated")

Adult Spotted Flycatcher (subspecies M. s. striata) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: Muscicapa striata striata
Weight: 14-20g  /  Length: 14.5cm  /  Wingspan: 23-25cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Spotted Flycatcher is a low density sort of bird - a fairly drab species which doesn't always grab the most attention, and indeed I'd never knowingly seen it before first starting this blog.  However when you do see one, it can be a species that is quite bold, perched on exposed branches and flitting out briefly to feed on flying insects. For me it has generally been associated with large shrubs and hedges - often at the edge of woodland or on passage, in areas of established scrubland.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Muscicapa
Subspecies: M. s. striata, M. s. neumanni, M. s. balearica, M. s. tyrrhenica, M. s. sarudnyi, M. s. inexpectata, M. s. mongola     

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Widespread breeding Summer migrant (36,000 pairs)

 - Birds seen at several sites including Geddington, Faversham and Wooler.

ITALY - Italian - Pigliamosche Comune ("Common Flycatcher")

A widespread Summer migrant and locally abundant passage migrant.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Capo Murro di Porco 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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