American Dusky Flycatcher |American Dusky Flycatcher| Song of
Empidonax oberholseri (help·info) The Dusky Flycatcher is one of
many species in the genus Empidonax. These species are very
similar in appearance and behavior, and they are notoriously
difficult to differentiate. The best characteristics for
distinguishing these species are voice, breeding habitat, and
range. Adults have olive-grey upperparts, darker on the wings
and tail, with whitish underparts; they have a noticeable
medium-width white eye ring, white wing bars and a medium length
tail. The breast is washed with olive-grey. The bill is mainly
dark. It is a bit smaller than the Gray Flycatcher and a bit
larger than the Hammond's Flycatcher. The male sings a three-
part song. A common call is a dry whit, similar to that of other
Empidonax flycatchers. A less common call that is possibly only
given by male is a sad dew-hic. The scientific name commemorates
the American ornithologist Harry Church Oberholser. These birds
migrate to southern Arizona a