Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

The Least Flycatcher is the rarest of three Empidonax flycatchers that breed in Missouri, the other two being the Willow Flycatcher and the Acadian Flycatcher. Although an extremely rare breeder, Least Flycatchers are relatively common during migration. The persistent "chebec - chebec - chebec" call is somewhat ventriloquistic and difficult to locate. Least Flycatchers frequent mature forests with some open areas, and a variety of second growth habitats. They are associated with dryer habitats than those of the Acadian Flycatcher (Walkinshaw 1966) or Willow Flycatcher.

Code Frequency

Atlasers documented only four records. Confirmed breeding was documented by a nesting attempt in Montgomery County in June and July 1992 where a nest was blown from a tree in the Americus block (McKenzie and Jacobs 1992). It was confirmed by Lloyd Kiff, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, to be that of a Least Flycatcher. This was the first documented record since an 1891 record in Jackson County (Robbins and Easterla 1992).

Distribution

According to Briskie's (1994) breeding range maps, this species should extend south to Missouri along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, yet its detection rate on Breeding Bird Survey routes is very low south of mid-Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based on Atlas Project records, and June and July records discussed by Robbins and Easterla (1992), this species may breed occasionally and irregularly throughout the state. Northern and eastern Missouri are the most likely areas to search for evidence of breeding pairs.

Phenology

This species is a common spring migrant in late April and early May with fall migrants arriving in early August (Robbins and Easterla 1992). The Atlas Project documented territoriality in late June and a nest in early July. No evidence of Eggs: or young was found near the nest (McKenzie and Jacobs 1992).

Notes

Least Flycatchers are listed as an uncommon Brown-headed Cowbird host (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 4 (<1%) of 1,207 blocks

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