Empidonax minimus
Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~60%
The least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (also called chebec, or chebecker, after the sound it makes) is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest Empidonax flycatcher in eastern North America. The closest relative to the least flycatcher was long thought to be the Hammond's flycatcher based on similarities in their songs and appearances. However, mitochondrial DNA analysis has revealed that the least flycatcher diverges significantly from its congeners and does not possess any sister taxa.
The least flycatcher is hard to distinguish from the other birds of its genus. The bird is one of the smallest of the genus Empidonax, measuring 12 to 14 cm in height with a wingspan of 19 to 22 cm and weighing approximately 10.3 g. Its plumage is dull olive-gray on its back and whitish on its belly, notably brighter than the other Empidonax birds. The least flycatcher's wings are lined with two white bars, and white rings contour its eyes. Its beak is short and the lower mandible is yellowish. The juveniles look similar to the adults except that their wing bars are slightly darker, with tawny/olive hues. Because other flycatchers also have those field marks... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Toluca | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 4 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Edmonton | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Detroit | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 10 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Least Flycatcher sighting in Calgary on a given day, based on 3,671 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 52nd most-seen of the 259 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Least Flycatcher in Calgary on a given day, against under 5% in October to April, the lowest months. That is one of Calgary's wettest months, with about 120 mm of rain against 15 mm in January.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Least Flycatcher sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 30 cities where we can rate Least Flycatcher sightings, Calgary has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Chicago (United States, about 10%) and Toluca (México, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Least Flycatcher is recorded against all the birds logged in Calgary (3,671 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
