Photo: User:Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 10 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Empidonax
- Species minimus
Where it lives
Western Canada to north-central, northeastern USA and southeastern Canada
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Least Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Least Flycatcher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA w Canada to nc, ne USA and se Canada.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Least Flycatcher?
The Least Flycatcher is a very small bird that weighs around 10 g.
Where does the Least Flycatcher live?
The Least Flycatcher is found across North America with a range covering NA w Canada to nc, ne USA and se Canada, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Least Flycatcher belong to?
The Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Least Flycatcher eat?
The Least Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Least Flycatcher migrate?
The Least Flycatcher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Least Flycatcher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Least Flycatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Least Flycatcher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Least Flycatcher's range?
The Least Flycatcher has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.