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Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: TYRANNIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Gray Flycatcher Photo

© Herbert Clarke / CLO

A typical species of the Great Basin sagebrush, the Gray Flycatcher can be quickly recognized not by its drab plumage, but by its habit of slowly wagging its tail downwards.

Inside Birding
For complete information on this species, visit The Birds of North America Online.

Appearance

Flycatchers
Flycatchers
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small flycatcher.
  • Prominent eyering and wingbars.
  • Back gray, belly white.
  • Constantly wags tail slowly downward.

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but upperparts tinged brownish, underparts with buff wash, and wingbars buff.

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Gray Flycatcher Range Map
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Similar Species

  • Closely resembles Dusky and Hammond's flycatchers. Habitat, song, and sometimes range are the best ways to distinguish among these species. Gray Flycatcher's downward tail wagging is distinctive; other Empidonax flycatchers flick their tail upward.
  • Gray and Hutton's vireos also are small, drab, birds with white wingbars, but the vireos have a more horizontal perching posture and narrow, hooked bills.