Alder Flycatchers are named for the alder-rich habitats they inhabit. During the breeding season, you can spot Alder Flycatchers in brushy habitats and wetlands across Alaska, Canada, the Great Lakes region, and New England. It’s incredibly difficult to tell the difference between Alder Flycatchers and several related species–in particular the Willow Flycatcher. You’ll need a keen eye to be able to correctly identify them.

Alder Flycatchers have olive-tinted undersides that give way to a crisp white throat. Their back and head is a darker gray-green color. Their wings are a deep brown color with white highlights. They have dark eyes that contrast with white eye rings. Alder Flycatchers and Willow Flycatchers appear identical and can only be differentiated by song. Luckily, Willow Flycatchers do not breed in Alaska, so if you see a bird that fits this description, it’s almost certainly an Alder Flycatcher.

Alder Flycatchers have the shortest breeding season of any migrant in the Alaskan interior. That means they are usually the last species to arrive in the spring at Creamer’s Field Migration Station (usually early June), and among the first to leave in the fall (usually by early August). Since 1992, we have logged about 1,000 Alder Flycatcher captures at CFMS.