Pacific-Slope Flycatcher
Empidonax difficilis
The Pacific-Slope Flycatcher is a member of the “Western Flycatcher” complex. It was split, along with the Cordilleran Flycatcher, in 1989. Not all scientists agree on this split. Even recent genetic studies haven’t settled the controversy. Scientists such as Douglas Futuyma have reviewed the genetic studies, and Andrew Rush, who authored genetic research papers, seems to disagree with the 1989 AOU decision to split the Western Flycatcher complex as it has, citing the following quote from the authors: “We now wonder whether, given the present evidence, the decision to formally split would have been made.” Douglas Futuyma Further stated, “If it were up to me to hand down AOU decisions, these forms would be retired, and we would go back to a single species, Western Flycatcher. I hope the AOU ultimately comes around to that view.”
Until such time when taxonomists conclusively put to bed the controversy mentioned above, there are three recognised subspecies of Pacific-Slope Flycatcher:
- E. d. difficilis breeds in the Pacific states and Canadian provinces from southeastern Alaska, south to the Sierra San Pedro Mártir of northern Baja California (Mexico).
- E. d. insulicola breeds on the Channel Islands off southern California.
- E. d. cineritius lives in the mountains of southern Baja California (Mexico).
I enjoy meetings with these birds each spring in my southern California home. I usually hear them before I see them. I recall my excitement when I first photographed one of these birds in mid-March 2002, hawking tiny insects in my patio. I’d never seen a bird so alert and focused on snagging insects from the mid-air.
29 Photos
Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens) |
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Description: San Felipe Creek, North of Highway 78. Eastern San Diego County, Anza-Borrego Park, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:10 12:21 |
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Location:
Scissors Crossing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD5325.PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: (Empidonax difficilis) At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California USA. 2014-08-30 |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 8:51 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X8617-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher-Headshot |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2002:03:18 8:12 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A2C18a30-PacificSlopeFlycatcher |
| © 2002 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:14 17:03 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: JCD5662PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road at the base of the climb over the San Lucia Mountains on the way to Big Sur California. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:17 12:15 |
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Location:
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1463-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: BioBlitz day in Balboa Park. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:43 |
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Location:
Brooklyn Heights |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/45 |
File Name: JCD4641PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:15 7:17 |
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Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7134-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:15 7:17 |
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Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7129-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:27 17:37 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X2530-PacificSlopeFlycatcher |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:28 10:43 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X1645-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:28 10:43 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X1636-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:28 10:43 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X1634-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road at the base of the climb over the San Lucia Mountains on the way to Big Sur California. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:17 12:16 |
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Location:
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X1484-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 12:06 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4241-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 12:05 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X4237-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 9:27 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X3793-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: 2012 Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:27 17:37 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: PacificSlopeFlycatcher_D3X2530 |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:24 18:54 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: D3X5094-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:24 8:50 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/13 |
File Name: D3X4991-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:24 10:21 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/30 |
File Name: D3X5051-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:22 15:12 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X4984-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:22 15:06 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4972-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 8:23 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X8496-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:27 17:37 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X2530-PacificSlopeFlycatcher-1 |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2018:04:27 18:04 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PacificSlopeFlycatcher_D503131-Poway |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:05:24 18:49 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5080-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: San Luis Rey Picnic Ground, west of Lake Henshaw in northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 9:07 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X8519-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: San Luis Rey Picnic Ground, west of Lake Henshaw in northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 9:08 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X8523-PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: I took this picture in 2002, when film was the best option for capturing images. I was photographing at my Poway home, and it was the first picture I’d taken that got me excited about photographing birds. I remember feeling for the first time, I’d captured the alertness of the subject that I’d hoped for. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:04:06 14:19 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A2C18A34-PacificSlopeFlycatcher-CR |
| © 2002 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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