Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) is in the Tyrant Flycatchers family (Tyrannidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,254 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Least Flycatcher: observations by month (U.S.)
About Least Flycatcher
The least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus), (also called chebec, or chebecker, after the sound it makes), is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest Empidonax flycatcher in eastern North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Least Flycatcher by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 995 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 736 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 306 | May | May–May |
| New York | 283 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 276 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 245 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 208 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 204 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 166 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 132 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 112 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 110 | December | Sep–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 96 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 92 | May | May–Aug |
| Maine | 91 | May | May–May |
| California | 89 | September | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 84 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 82 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 79 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 73 | September | Sep–Oct |
| South Dakota | 63 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 61 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 58 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 56 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 47 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 46 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 44 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 43 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | 41 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 39 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 38 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 34 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Connecticut | 31 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 25 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Arkansas | 23 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 21 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 20 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 18 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wyoming | 17 | May | May–May |
| Arizona | 13 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Utah | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Mexico | 10 | September | Sep–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 8 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 5 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Eastern Phoebe
Black Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Say's Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Least Flycatcher?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to May.
Where is Least Flycatcher most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Illinois, Minnesota.