Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
The Least Flycatcher is a bird of eastern North America, but they nest in the northern USA as far west as Montana, Northern Idaho. Further north, they make summer homes from eastern British Columbia, to Canada’s Maritime Provinces. We can also find them in the northern tier of the USA to the east coast. When the season for raising babies ends, most of them migrate to southern Mexico and Central America. They are the smallest of all North American flycatchers.
Taxonomists regard the Least Flycatcher as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
Many bird species seek isolated nesting locations, far from other members of their species. But these birds choose to nest in clusters or groups, with an approximate distance of 150 to 200 feet between nesting pairs.
I met my first Least Flycatcher at Little Lake, Alberta (Canada) in 2005 during my expedition to Alaska. I followed the meeting less than a week later in Fort Nelson (British Columbia). I would not see them again until I found myself in south Texas during spring migration in early May 2021. I met them during spring tours of Canada in 2022 and 2023. When I returned to south Texas for the 2022 fall migration season, I enjoyed their company once more on South Padre Island.
20 Photos
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: Another "first meeting" for me at Little Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:04 11:52 |
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Location:
Saskatoon Island Privicial Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD3468LeastFlycatcher |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: Fort Nelson, BC, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:12 10:16 |
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Location:
Fort Nelson |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD4088LeastFlycatcher |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: The primary (wing) feathers seemed right for a Least Flycatcher, and the head shape seemed better (more rounded) than the Acadian Flycatcher. It’s hard to tell them apart. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 17:44 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_D5X5401_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: The primary (wing) feathers aren't visible here, but the head shape seemed better for the Least Flycatcher. It’s hard to tell them apart. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 12:37 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_D5X4860_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: The primary (wing) feathers seemed right for a Least Flycatcher, and the head shape seemed better (more rounded) than the Acadian Flycatcher. It’s hard to tell them apart. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 10:08 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_D5X4472_SPI-Sheepshead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: The primary (wing) feathers seemed right for a Least Flycatcher, and the head shape seemed better (more rounded) than the Acadian Flycatcher. It’s hard to tell them apart. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 9:43 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_D5X4443_SPI-Sheepshead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: The primary (wing) feathers seemed right for a Least Flycatcher, and the head shape seemed better (more rounded) than the Acadian Flycatcher. It’s hard to tell them apart. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 9:19 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_D5X4397_SPI-Sheepshead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: Least Flycatchers added themselves to the list of tricky flycatcher identification challenges here on South Padre Island. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:18 12:20 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Bird and Natu |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8504475-SPI-BNC |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: Least Flycatchers added themselves to the list of tricky flycatcher identification challenges here on South Padre Island. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:12 10:00 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8502197-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: Least Flycatchers added themselves to the list of tricky flycatcher identification challenges here on South Padre Island. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:12 10:00 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8502158-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: Least Flycatchers at the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation on the edge of Lesser Slave Lake were calling from every corner of the woods. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:06 10:59 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8509551-LesserSlaveLake.BorealBirdCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: Least Flycatchers at the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation on the edge of Lesser Slave Lake were calling from every corner of the woods. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:06 10:59 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8509531-LesserSlaveLake.BorealBirdCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: I paid a morning visit to the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation and met a community of birds that eluded me the previous afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:30 9:15 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8504611-BorealBirdCentre.LesserSlaveLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: I paid a morning visit to the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation and met a community of birds that eluded me the previous afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:30 9:14 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8504579-BorealBirdCentre.LesserSlaveLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: I paid a morning visit to the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation and met a community of birds that eluded me the previous afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:30 9:13 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8504549-BorealBirdCentre.LesserSlaveLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: I paid a morning visit to the Boreal Center for Bird Conservation and met a community of birds that eluded me the previous afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:30 9:07 |
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Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_8504484-BorealBirdCentre.LesserSlaveLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: When I reached Presqu'ile Provincial Park on the northern shore of Lake Ontario on the last days of May 2023, the spring migration was nearly complete. I believe all the birds I met during my visit were there to raise babies on these grounds. |
Date Taken: 2023:06:01 8:35 |
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Location:
Presqu'ile Provincial Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_Z9X2666_PresquilePark-Ont-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
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Description: During my stay near Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, most locals I met spoke fondly of a location called Tiny Marsh. On March 24th, I spent most of the day there and learned for myself why it is loved by so many folks. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:24 8:01 |
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Location:
Tiny Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_Z9X9843_TinyMarsh-Ont-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: During my stay near Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, most locals I met spoke fondly of a location called Tiny Marsh. On March 24th, I spent most of the day there and learned for myself why it is loved by so many folks. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:24 8:01 |
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Location:
Tiny Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_Z9X9832_TinyMarsh-Ont-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus) |
|
Description: During my stay near Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, most locals I met spoke fondly of a location called Tiny Marsh. On March 24th, I spent most of the day there and learned for myself why it is loved by so many folks. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:24 8:01 |
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Location:
Tiny Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LeastFlycatcher_Z9X9828_TinyMarsh-Ont-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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