Empidonax

The genus Empidonax is a group of small insect-eating passerine birds in the tyrant flycatcher family, the Tyrannidae that are found in North and South America.

Taxonomy

The genus Empidonax was introduced in 1855 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis to accommodate a single species, Empidonax pusillus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> This name is now considered to be a junior synonym of Platyrhynchos virescens that had been introduced in 1818 by Louis Pierre Vieillot for the Acadian flycatcher.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The genus name combines the Ancient Greek εμπις/empis, εμπιδος/empidos meaning "gnat" or "mosquito" with αναξ/anax, ανακτος/anaktos meaning "lord" or "master".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A large molecular phylogenetic study of the tyrant flycatcher family published in 2020 found that Empidonax was sister to the genus Sayornis containing the three phoebes.<ref name=harvey>Template:Cite journal A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website here.</ref>

Most of these birds are very similar in plumage: olive on the upper parts with light underparts, eye rings and wing bars. In the nesting season they may be distinguished by range, habitat and call; in other situations, particularly on migration and in winter, it may not be possible to be sure of specific identification.

Empidonax flycatchers often flick their wings and tails rapidly.

Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri and gray-breasted flycatcher, Lathrotriccus griseipectus were formerly placed in Empidonax, but differ anatomically and biochemically and are now placed in the genus Lathrotriccus.

Species

The genus contains 14 species:<ref name=ioc>Template:Cite web</ref>

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
File:Empidonax flaviventris GJ2.jpg	Empidonax flaviventris	Yellow-bellied flycatcher	North America, Mexico and Central America
File:Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (19049375859).jpg	Empidonax virescens	Acadian flycatcher	eastern United States and southwestern Ontario, eastern Mexico and the Caribbean to southern Central America and the very northwest of South America in Colombia, western Venezuela, and Ecuador
File:Empidonax alnorum CT2.jpg	Empidonax alnorum	Alder flycatcher	Canada and Alaska, descending to a southernmost point in the northeastern United States
File:Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.jpg	Empidonax traillii	Willow flycatcher	United States and southern Canada
File:Empidonax albigularis.jpg	Empidonax albigularis	White-throated flycatcher	Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
File:Empidonax-minimus-001.jpg	Empidonax minimus	Least flycatcher	eastern North America
File:Hammond's Flycatcher - Sisters - Oregon S4E1410 (19236697615).jpg	Empidonax hammondii	Hammond's flycatcher	western United States, Alaska and Canada
File:Empidonax wrightii Richard Crossley.jpg	Empidonax wrightii	American grey flycatcher	western North America, especially the Great Basin.
File:American Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) (8079381798).jpg	Empidonax oberholseri	American dusky flycatcher	southern Arizona and Mexico
File:Pine Flycatcher (Empidonax affinis) (8079388221).jpg	Empidonax affinis	Pine flycatcher	Mexico and southwestern Guatemala.
File:Empidonax difficilis1.jpg	Empidonax difficilis	Western flycatcher	western North America, including the Pacific Ocean and the southern Gulf of California to Mexico
File:Empidonax-flavescens-001.jpg	Empidonax flavescens	Yellowish flycatcher	southeastern Mexico south to western Panama.
File:Buff-breastedFlycatcher-30APR2017.jpg	Empidonax fulvifrons	Buff-breasted flycatcher	United States through Mexico to southern Honduras.
File:Black-capped Flycatcher - Central Highlands - Costa Rica MG 7063 (26603418092).jpg	Empidonax atriceps	Black-capped flycatcher	Costa Rica and western Panama.

External links

• Generic Study of Euler's Flycatcher