American Gray Flycatcher

The American Gray Flycatcher, or gray flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) as it is known in North America, is a small, insectivorous passerine in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is widespread in western North America's arid regions, particularly the Great Basin. This flycatcher forages hunts insects from shrubs or low tree branches in sagebrush steppes, pinyon-juniper woods, and ponderosa pine forests.

Despite being small, American gray flycatchers are larger than the majority of Empidonax flycatchers. A normal adult is 15 cm long, with a wingspan of 22 cm, and weighs 12.5 g. Adults have light gray upper parts with darker wings and a tail that has a slight olive hue. In fresh plumage, the underparts are pale but with a faint golden wash. They have a subtle white eye ring and white wing bars. Above the base of the bill, there is a pale supraloral band. The American gray flycatcher differs from other Empidonax species in North America in that it has a long, narrow bill, a long tail, and a mandible that tends to be paler along more of its length.