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Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens Scientific name definitions

Roselvy Juárez
Version: 2.0 — Published February 9, 2024
Revision Notes

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Introduction

The Yellowish Flycatcher, described in 1865 as Empidonax flavescens, is found from southeastern Mexico to western Panama. Although at some point it was treated as conspecific within the Empidonax difficilis complex, the Yellowish Flycatcher is recognized as a separate species in modern literature. Several formally described subspecies (e.g., floresae, chitrae, and seclusus) are not valid taxa. The nominate group likely represents a separate species (see Systematics History).

As is typical of flycatchers of the genus Empidonax, both sexes look alike, and the differences between ages are subtle. Adults have olive-green upperparts, pale lores, an almond-shaped eye-ring, and grayish-brown wings with two pale lemon wingbars, and the underparts are primarily yellowish. The extent and depth of the yellow of the underparts vary slightly among subspecies.

It generally occurs between 900–3000 m in evergreen broadleaf and pine-oak forests. This species usually stays close to the ground, in shorter trees and shrubs of primary forests, forest edges, isolated patches of second-growth, plantations, and gardens. It feeds mainly on insects and occasionally on small fruits. Most of the time, the Yellowish Flycatcher remains alone, but occasionally it may accompany mixed-species flocks. During the breeding season, it is found in pairs. Only the female incubates, but the male contributes to parental care.

The abundance of the Yellowish Flycatcher varies from rare to fairly common throughout Middle America. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) evaluates it as Least Concern. Nonetheless, this flycatcher is suspected to be undergoing significant declines.

Distribution of the Yellowish Flycatcher - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Yellowish Flycatcher

Recommended Citation

Juárez, R. (2024). Yellowish Flycatcher (Empidonax flavescens), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (N. C. García, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.yelfly1.02
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