The genus Empidonax is a group of small insect-eating passerine birds in the tyrant flycatcher family, the Tyrannidae that are found in North and South America.
Taxonomy The genus Empidonax was introduced in 1855 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis to accommodate a single species, Empidonax pusillus. This name is now considered to be a junior synonym of Platyrhynchos virescens that had been introduced in 1818 by Louis Pierre Vieillot for the Acadian flycatcher. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek εμπις/empis, εμπιδος/empidos meaning "gnat" or "mosquito" with αναξ/anax, ανακτος/anaktos meaning "lord" or "master". A large molecular phylogenetic study of the tyrant flycatcher family published in 2020 found that Empidonax was sister to the genus Sayornis containing the three phoebes. A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website here.
Most of these birds are very similar in plumage: olive on the upper parts with light underparts, eye rings and wing bars. In the nesting season they may be distinguished by range, habitat and call; in other situations, particularly on migration and in winter, it may not be possible to be sure of specific identification.
Empidonax flycatchers often flick their wings and tails rapidly.
Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri and gray-breasted flycatcher, Lathrotriccus griseipectus were formerly placed in Empidonax, but differ anatomically and biochemically and are now placed in the genus Lathrotriccus.
Species The genus contains 14 species: Image Scientific name Common name Distribution Empidonax flaviventris Yellow-bellied flycatcherNorth America, Mexico and Central America Empidonax virescens Acadian flycatcher eastern United States and southwestern Ontario, eastern Mexico and the Caribbean to southern Central America and the very northwest of South America in Colombia, western Venezuela, and Ecuador Empidonax alnorum Alder flycatcher Canada and Alaska, descending to a southernmost point in the northeastern United States Empidonax traillii Willow flycatcherUnited States and southern Canada Empidonax albigularis White-throated flycatcherBelize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Empidonax minimus Least flycatchereastern North America Empidonax hammondii Hammond's flycatcher western United States, Alaska and Canada Empidonax wrightii American grey flycatcherwestern North America, especially the Great Basin. Empidonax oberholseri American dusky flycatchersouthern Arizona and Mexico Empidonax affinis Pine flycatcher Mexico and southwestern Guatemala. Empidonax difficilis Western flycatcher western North America, including the Pacific Ocean and the southern Gulf of California to Mexico Empidonax flavescens Yellowish flycatcher southeastern Mexico south to western Panama. Empidonax fulvifrons Buff-breasted flycatcherUnited States through Mexico to southern Honduras. Empidonax atriceps Black-capped flycatcher Costa Rica and western Panama.
References
External links
Generic Study of Euler's Flycatcher