Grey Flycatcher vs Western Flycatcher
Empidonax wrightii versus Empidonax difficilis
Play a quiz with Grey Flycatcher and Western Flycatcher
Grey Flycatcher
Western Flycatcher
In short
The tail wagging behavior is a key difference: the Grey Flycatcher wags its tail in a gentle downward motion, unlike the Western Flycatcher. Both species are similar in appearance, making behavior a crucial identification tool.
Identification tips
Focus on the tail wagging behavior: Grey Flycatchers wag their tails downward gently, unlike Western Flycatchers. This behavior is a reliable field mark when distinguishing between these two species.
Behaviour
The Grey Flycatcher is notable for its unique tail wagging, which is a gentle downward movement similar to a slowed-down phoebe wag. This contrasts with the Western Flycatcher, which does not exhibit this behavior.