307. Pacific-slope Flycatcher

The Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)is more often heard than seen here at Leaning Oaks.  It's call  a distinct upslurred "seewit" is a common sound of spring in our mixed woods of Douglas-fir, Big-leaf Maple and Garry Oak. a It is a summer breeder here, with our earliest records in the first week of May and the latest birds lingering until the second week of September.  Empidonax flycatchers are difficult to identify, although for us the Pacific-slope is the yellowest of the flycatchers here and the only one with a tear-drop shaped eye ring.  Elsewhere however, the Pacific-slope is very difficult to distinguish from the Cordilleran Flycatcher and in  recent trips to western Mexico where both species winter, we were reduced to recording them as "Western" Flycatchers, unless they were calling.