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Location: Point Loma, CA
Date: 2003-10-02
Lens: Canon 400mm F5.6

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Pacific-Slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis


Description

The Pacific-slope Flycatcher was formerly grouped with the Cordilleran Flycatcher into a single species, known as the Western Flycatcher. The genus Empidonax means 'lord of the mosquitoes'. Like other flycatchers, this bird will fly from its perch, catch an insect in mid-air and loop back to the perch it came from.



Appearance

Brownish-olive upperparts. Yellowish throat, belly and undertail coverts. Dusky olive breast. Wide bill with dark upper mandible and pale-orange lower mandible. Thick white elongated eye ring. Two whitish-buff wing bars. Pointed crown. Fall birds may be duller in color. Sexes similar. 5.5 to 6 inches in length.



Habitat

Moist, coniferous or mixed forests.



Nesting

3-4 white eggs with brown spots. The eggs have a 13-15 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in ? days. The nest is a cup made from rootlets and twigs lined with moss.






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