In comparison to the mature old-growth forests they inhabit, Hammond’s Flycatchers seem particularly petite. Spot them in the coniferous forests of the western United States, British Columbia, the Yukon, and interior Alaska. As their name suggests, these birds primarily feed on insects. They swipe their prey out of the air mid-flight.

Hammond’s Flycatchers have a pale greenish-yellow underside. Their heads and backs are very slightly darker–approaching gray. They have a dark gray tail and wings with white wing bars. Their eyes are dark. They have uneven white eyerings. They are tiny, and they have a round appearance. It’s extremely difficult to distinguish Hammond’s Flycatchers from their close relatives, Dusky Flycatchers. Luckily, Dusky Flycatchers don’t breed in Alaska, so you won’t have to worry about misidentifying them.

At Creamer’s Field Migration Station, Hammond’s Flycatchers are one of the few species that tend to be caught more frequently in the spring than in the fall. Despite migrating all the way to Central America during the winter, Hammond’s Flycatchers can be very loyal to the same breeding sites at Creamer’s Field. A female flycatcher first banded as an adult at CFMS May 2018 has been recaptured at CFMS as recently as spring 2024!