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Tyrant flycatcher is the largest family of birds on the planet, with more than 400 species throughout North and South America.
And it's a family that causes some of my biggest headaches when it comes to identifying birds. Except for the Eastern Kingbird, which is larger and more distinctive than many other types of tyrant flycatchers in this region of the country, other family members look very similar. I know it’s a … Continue reading
Click on a photo to see a larger version
A Willow Flycatcher perches on a branch in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, Ohio.
An Eastern Kingbird perches on berries in Slate Run Metro Park, Canal Winchester, Ohio.
An Eastern Phoebe perches on a branch in Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, S.C.
An Eastern Phoebe rests on top of a branch in Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
A Willow Flycatcher hangs onto a stem in Slate Run Metro Park, Canal Winchester, Ohio.
A Willow Flycatcher perches atop a tree in Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
An Eastern Kingbird perches in a field in Slate Run Metro Park, Canal Winchester, Ohio.
An Eastern Wood Peewee perches on a stem in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, Ohio.
An immature Eastern Phoebe perches on flowers, Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
An Eastern Kingbird calls from a post in Slate Run Metro Park, Canal Winchester, Ohio.
Eastern Phoebe in fall field, Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
A Willow Flycatcher perches on a plant stem in Slate Run Metro Park, Canal Winchester, Ohio.
A Willow Flycatcher is surrounded by branches in Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
An Eastern Wood-Peewee perches on top of a broken limb in Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio.
An Eastern Kingbird perches atop a plant stem in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, Ohio.
flycatcher when I see the bird in my viewfinder, but I don’t know what type of flycatcher. Even after studying the photo on the computer and comparing it to photos of flycatchers in my various field guides I’m often still stumped.
I have photos of several of the species found in Central Ohio — Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Wood-Peewees and Willow Flycatchers, Alder Flycatchers and some other flycatchers. Except for the kingbird, I'm not confident that the identifications are correct — even though I often seek assistance from experts.
When I get a new photo of a tyrant flycatcher I typically post it to BirdForum.net and have the experts there assist me with the identification. Unfortunately, the posts often spark a debate — especially if the photo is of a bird in the flycatcher species. Many of these are so similar that the only way to identify a specific type of flycatcher is by its voice, but I don’t capture the voice in a still photo. So is it a Willow Flycatcher, an Alder Flycatcher or one of its other cousins? Don’t know. I usually just call it a Willow Flycatcher until someone proves me wrong.
So the photos in this gallery all show tyrant flycatchers. I guarantee that. But I won't guarantee anything beyond that.
The name “flycatcher” is well earned. A typical flycatcher — whether it is a kingbird, a phoebe, a peewee or one of the many others that carry a flycatcher name — will dart from its perch to catch insects in flight.
