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Acadian Flycatcher
Birds diurnal

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

The Acadian Flycatcher is the emerald gem of the deep woods. While its olive plumage allows it to vanish into the leaves, its sharp 'peet-sa' call and agile aerial maneuvers make it a thrill to discover on any forest trail or backyard camera.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 5.5-5.9 in (14-15 cm), Wingspan: 8.7-9.1 in (22-23 cm), Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (11-14 g)

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Colors

Olive-green upperparts, pale throat, and yellowish wash on the flanks; dark wings with two prominent white or buffy wing bars; yellowish or white eye ring.

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Key Features

  • Prominent white or yellowish eye ring
  • Large bill with a pale orange lower mandible
  • Olive-green back with no brownish or grayish tint
  • Two distinct white wing bars
  • Slightly peaked crown profile

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal
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Peak hours 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Season May - August
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Diet Primarily an insectivore, it hunts flies, beetles, moths, ants, and caterpillars. It uses a 'hawking' strategy to catch prey in flight or 'gleans' insects directly from foliage.
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Habitat Mature deciduous forests, particularly moist bottomlands, ravines, and swampy areas with a closed canopy.

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Behavior

The Acadian Flycatcher is a bird of the deep, shaded forest interior, often found near water. It is best known for its explosive 'peet-sa!' call, which it delivers from a mid-level perch in the canopy. This species is highly territorial and will aggressively defend its nesting area from other birds, often engaging in fast-paced aerial chases.

These flycatchers are masters of the 'perch and pounce' technique. They sit motionless on a horizontal branch, scanning for movement, then dart out with incredible speed to snatch an insect from mid-air or under a leaf. After the catch, they almost always return to the same branch or one nearby, often performing a signature upward tail flick upon landing.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of an Acadian Flycatcher, position your camera near a slow-moving stream or a shaded vernal pool. These birds are drawn to water for both bathing and the high density of insects. Look for horizontal, moss-covered branches that hang low over the water; these are their preferred hunting perches. Mounting your camera at a height of 5 to 8 feet on a nearby tree trunk, angled slightly downward toward the water's edge, is often the most effective setup.

Since they are strictly insect-eaters, traditional bird feeders won't work. Instead, focus on 'natural lures.' A solar-powered water mister or a small dripping fountain can be a powerful attractant. The sound and movement of the water will catch their attention in the quiet forest understory. If you have a backyard with mature trees, leaving leaf mulch on the ground can also help by fostering the insect populations they depend on for food.

Lighting is a major factor since these birds prefer the 'deep shade' of the forest. Use a camera with a high-quality sensor that performs well in low-light conditions. Set your trigger sensitivity to high, as these birds move very quickly when hawking for insects. If your camera allows for video length adjustment, set it to at least 15-20 seconds to capture the sequence of them leaving a perch and returning with prey.

During the nesting season in June and July, Acadian Flycatchers are very site-faithful. If you spot a bird returning to the same area repeatedly, it likely has a nest nearby—often a flimsy-looking 'cup' suspended in the fork of a horizontal branch. Setting your camera to time-lapse mode during the morning hours can reveal fascinating behaviors like nest maintenance or territorial displays that motion triggers might miss.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Acadian Flycatcher.

Least Flycatcher

Smaller with a shorter bill and more grayish-olive; prefers more open woods and brushy edges.

Willow Flycatcher

Lacks a prominent eye ring and has a brownish-olive back; typically found in open shrubby wetlands.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Larger with much longer wings and lacks a prominent eye ring; has a distinctive 'pee-a-wee' whistle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Acadian Flycatchers are most active in the early morning hours, shortly after sunrise, and again in the late afternoon. This is when their insect prey is most active and when they are most vocal, making them easier to locate.
The best way to attract Acadian Flycatchers is to provide a water feature with moving water, such as a mister or dripper, and to maintain mature, native deciduous trees. They do not eat seeds, so a healthy ecosystem of native plants that support insects is essential.
They eat a variety of small insects, including flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and small moths. They are also known to eat small spiders and occasionally supplement their diet with small berries in the late summer.
They are less common in traditional suburban lawns but can be found in suburban backyards that border mature forests or contain large, shaded woodlots with plenty of canopy cover and nearby water.
The Acadian is 'greener' than its cousins. Look for its large, wide bill with a pale base, a clear white eye ring, and its tendency to live in deep, damp woods. Its unique 'peet-sa' call is the most reliable way to distinguish it from the Willow or Least Flycatcher.

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