The least flycatcher is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest Empidonax flycatcher in eastern North America.
Region
North and Central America
Typical Environment
Breeds widely across the boreal and northern temperate forests of Canada and the northern United States, favoring deciduous and mixed woods with a midstory. It is especially common in aspen, poplar, and second-growth stands, along forest edges, and near clearings or riparian corridors. During migration it uses woodlots, hedgerows, and shrubby edges. In winter it occupies tropical and subtropical forest edges, semi-open woodland, and shade coffee plantations from southern Mexico to Panama.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The least flycatcher is the smallest Empidonax flycatcher in eastern North America and is notoriously hard to identify by sight alone; its sharp che-bek song is the most reliable clue. It often breeds in loose clusters, especially in aspen and poplar groves, a semi-colonial tendency unusual among empids. Like its relatives, it hunts by sallying from exposed perches to snatch flying insects.
South Padre Island - Texas
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies and brief hovers
Social Behavior
Breeding territories are defended vigorously by males, which sing persistently from exposed perches. Pairs form seasonally; nests are compact cups placed on horizontal forks in the mid-canopy, often near the trunk. Clutches typically contain 3–5 eggs; the female incubates while the male guards and feeds nearby. Outside the breeding season they may join mixed-species foraging flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a sharp, emphatic che-bek repeated at steady intervals, carrying well through forests. Calls include dry wit notes and soft brrrt trills during interactions. The rhythm and tone are key for distinguishing it from other Empidonax flycatchers.
