Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A Flycatcher (family Tyrannidae) -- probably some sort of Empidonax Flycatcher (Empidonax sp.) or Wood Pewee (Contopus sp.) -- calls softly and occasionally flies around in a shady spot at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary, in High Island, TX, USA. (This bird actually flew up to me and hovered a little bit in front of my camera when I first walked into the space.)
Of the usual such Flycatchers in this area, this sounds most like an Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) to me, compared to reference calls online, but it's still not a great match. There have been a lot of Eastern Wood Pewees (Contopus virens) in the area, too, but I don't think that's a great match either. Of less common Flycatchers that could be in the area, this actually sounds the most to me like a Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri), but it's not a perfect match, and it would be far out of its usual range.
At the end of the day, I guess these sorts of Flycatchers can be really hard to identify, even if they're calling.
A Flycatcher (family Tyrannidae) -- probably some sort of Empidonax Flycatcher (Empidonax sp.) or Wood Pewee (Contopus sp.) -- calls softly and occasionally flies around in a shady spot at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary, in High Island, TX, USA. (This bird actually flew up to me and hovered a little bit in front of my camera when I first walked into the space.)
Of the usual such Flycatchers in this area, this sounds most like an Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) to me, compared to reference calls online, but it's still not a great match. There have been a lot of Eastern Wood Pewees (Contopus virens) in the area, too, but I don't think that's a great match either. Of less common Flycatchers that could be in the area, this actually sounds the most to me like a Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri), but it's not a perfect match, and it would be far out of its usual range.
At the end of the day, I guess these sorts of Flycatchers can be really hard to identify, even if they're calling.
