Pacific-slope flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pacific-slope flycatcher |
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Empidonax
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| Species: |
difficilis
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The Pacific-slope flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) is a small bird that loves to eat insects. It belongs to a bird family called Tyrannidae. You can find these birds along the coast of western North America. Their home stretches from British Columbia and southern Alaska all the way down to the Pacific Ocean and the southern Gulf of California.
For a long time, the Pacific-slope flycatcher and another bird, the Cordilleran flycatcher, were thought to be the same species. They were both called the "western flycatcher." But in 1989, scientists decided they were different. In winter, both types of flycatchers fly south to Mexico. There, it's very hard to tell them apart!
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What Does the Pacific-slope Flycatcher Look Like?
The Pacific-slope flycatcher looks almost exactly like the Cordilleran flycatcher. It also looks very similar to most other Empidonax flycatchers in North America. It's hard to tell them apart just by looking at their feathers.
However, these birds have different breeding areas. They also have different calls. The sound of their call can change a little bit depending on the region. It can also vary slightly from one bird to another.
Where Do Pacific-slope Flycatchers Live?
The Pacific-slope flycatcher lives in different kinds of forests. These can be forests with coniferous trees (like pine trees) or deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves).
In its home range, you can find it in many wooded places. These include mixed woods, Douglas fir forests, and redwood forests. They also live in riparian woodlands, which are forests found near rivers or streams.
In November 2019, one of these West Coast birds was seen on the East Coast. It showed up in Palmyra, New Jersey. This was a very rare sighting!
What Do Pacific-slope Flycatchers Eat?
As a flycatcher, this bird is an expert at catching flying insects. It will sit quietly on a branch or perch. When it spots a flying insect, it quickly chases it down. They make it look so easy!
Pacific-slope flycatchers also fly into swarms of tiny insects. They love to eat gnats and mosquitos. They will go wherever these insects gather. These birds are very important for keeping insect populations in check. They especially help control mosquitoes. They also enjoy eating caterpillars and spiders.
See also
In Spanish: Mosquero del Pacífico para niños
