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Tyrant Flycatchers

52 Bird Species

Eastern Phoebe

This species resembles the wood-pewees, but has proportionally larger and rounder head, lacks wing bars, and constantly dips its tail. Upperparts are dark brownish-gray, slightly paler on the back and rump. The underparts are whitish, with an olive-gray wash on the sides of the breast. In autumn, oft more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 29 cm

Eastern Wood-Pewee

This species is nearly identical to Western Wood-Pewee. The two are best distinguished by voice. Eastern Wood-Pewee is lighter overall, with a more olive cast than the Western. Upperparts are olive-gray, with two whitish wing bars and a very faint light eye ring. The underparts are dull whitish, with more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 27 cm

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

This unmistakable bird is a rare visitor from South America, recognized by its black and white pattern and ridiculously long tail feathers. The upperparts are black with a paler gray back, which sharply contrasts with the black crown. The underparts, including the underside of the wings, are white. T more...

Length: 28 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Gray Flycatcher

This species appears long-tailed and small-headed, with a long thin bill. Upperparts are light gray. Darker wings show two narrow whitish wing bars and short primary projection. The tail is long and squared, with prominent white edges. (All Empidonax flycatchers may show paler outer tail edges, but t more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 24 cm

Gray Kingbird

This large kingbird is recognized by its uniformly gray upperparts, long heavy bill, and contrasting dark mask that runs from the base of the bill through the auriculars. The wings are slightly darker with thin pale feather edges. The tail is long and notched. Underparts, including the underside of t more...

Length: 23 cm Wingspan: 37 cm

Gray-collared Becard

This Mexican/Central American species is rare vagrant to the southwestern U.S. (one record). It is unlikely to be mistaken for any other North American bird. It is sparrow-sized, with a proportionally large head and thick bill and short tail. Adults are entirely gray below and mostly black above, wit more...

Length: cm Wingspan: cm

Great Crested Flycatcher

This is the largest and most colorful flycatcher in the east. Upperparts are olive-brown. The wings are darker with whitish feather edges on the tertials and secondaries, and rufous on the primaries. The tail has extensive rufous, mostly visible on the underside. The face and upper breast are dark gr more...

Length: 17 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Great Kiskadee

This tropical flycatcher is instantly recognized by its large size and bold pattern. The upperparts are vary from dull reddish-brown to rich rusty-brown with rufous feather edges on the wings and tail. The head is boldly striped with a black crown, white supercilium, black cheek, and white throat. A more...

Length: 24 cm Wingspan: 41 cm

Greater Pewee

This large flycatcher stands out with its thin pointed titmouse-like crest, yellow-orange lower mandible, and long notched tail. The upperparts are dull gray. The underparts are lighter gray, with a dull whitish throat, and a yellow wash on the lower belly. Juvenile similar to adult, with buffy wing more...

Length: 18 cm Wingspan: 34 cm

Greenish Elaenia

A small Central and South American flycatcher that resembles North American Empidonax, but generally lacks wingbars and has a fairly obvious whitish supercilium. Adult: Head, throat, and breast are medium gray; palest on throat and breast. Short white supercillium. Partially concealed yellowish crown more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 21 cm

Hammond's Flycatcher

This small flycatcher appears large-headed and long-winged, with a short notched tail and a tiny bill. Upperparts are olive gray, turning more gray on the face. The wings show two wing bars (buffy in fall, whitish in summer) and very long primary projection. The whitish eye ring is wider behind the e more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

La Sagra's Flycatcher

Medium-sized Myiarchus flycatcher that is proportionally large-headed and short-tailed. Dark earth-brown and reddish-brown above and pale below; usually shows a conspicuous bushy crest. Adult: Dark dusky face and crest. Long dark bill. Shows much less yellow (almost none) below than other Myiarchus, more...

Length: 19 cm Wingspan: 27 cm

Least Flycatcher

This small active flycatcher appears large-headed and short-tailed. Upperparts are gray-brown, with an olive wash on the back. The blackish wings show two bold whitish wing bars and relatively short primary extension. The tail is slightly notched. The whitish eye ring is usually conspicuous. The bill more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 19 cm

Loggerhead Kingbird

Gray, black and white kingbird with large thick bill and square looking back of head. Adult male: Black head with contrasting white throat. Dark eye and dark bill. Dark gray nape, back and rump. Wings dark brown with bold white edging to wing coverts, tertials and secondaries. White underparts. Dark more...

Length: 23 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Masked Tityra

Distinctive, large tityra. Adult male: Extremely pale gray head and back with boldly contrasting black face. A large unfeathered patch of reddish-pink facial skin extends from the base of the bill, through the lores, and surrounds the dark red eye. Heavy reddish-pink bill with dark tip. Pale grayish, more...

Length: 21 cm Wingspan: cm

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

This is the smallest of North America's breeding flycatchers. Upperparts are olive-gray. Proportionally larger-headed and more slender in the torso than similar "Empidonax" flycatchers. Wings show very short primary projection and lack strong wingbars. The crown is slightly darker and often raised to more...

Length: 10 cm Wingspan: 18 cm

Eastern Phoebe
7 Photographs
Eastern Wood-Pewee
7 Photographs
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
7 Photographs
Gray Flycatcher
6 Photographs
Gray Kingbird
1 Photograph
Gray-collared Becard
0 Photographs
Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Photograph
Great Kiskadee
8 Photographs
Greater Pewee
3 Photographs
Greenish Elaenia
0 Photographs
Hammond's Flycatcher
12 Photographs
La Sagra's Flycatcher
2 Photographs
Least Flycatcher
6 Photographs
Loggerhead Kingbird
4 Photographs
Masked Tityra
1 Photograph
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
8 Photographs

Non-vegetated Areas

1 species

Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Dry Western Woodlands

Salt Water

1 species

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands

Human-altered Areas

12 species

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Couch's Kingbird

Tyrannus couchii

Suburban/residential Landscapes, Shrubby Slopes, Chapparal, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia