Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Bird · Uncommon to fairly common migrant and summer resident in Iowa, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and currently secure globally though sensitive to local wetland and shrubland loss.
Summary
The Alder Flycatcher is a small, migratory songbird that visits Iowa during the breeding season. It is frequently detected by its characteristic, explosive 'fee-bee-o' song echoing from damp thickets. Like many flycatchers, it feeds primarily on flying insects caught on the wing.
Identification tips
Olive-brown upperparts, whitish throats, pale yellowish bellies, and two distinct whitish wing bars. It lacks obvious eyerings compared to some related Empidonax species. Visual identification is notoriously difficult, so relying on its unique vocalization is usually necessary.
Habitat
Shrub swamps, damp thickets, alder thickets, and overgrown riparian corridors. It is closely tied to wet, brushy habitats near water during the breeding season.
Similar species
Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, and Acadian Flycatcher. Physically nearly identical to the Willow Flycatcher, making vocalizations the most reliable way to tell them apart.
Sources
Sightings on Iowa Wildlife
No sightings have been linked to this species yet.
Species text is a short compilation for this site, not an official DNR page.