Least Flycatcher
Least FlycatcherLeast FlycatcherLeast FlycatcherLeast Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
164 Verified sightings at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary From 2019 to 2026
11,490 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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. The closest relative to the least flycatcher was long thought to be the Hammond's flycatcher based on similarities in their songs and appearances. However, mitochondrial DNA analysis has revealed that the least flycatcher diverges significantly from its congeners and does not possess any sister taxa.

The least flycatcher is hard to distinguish from the other birds of its genus. The bird is one of the smallest of the genus Empidonax, measuring 12 to 14 cm in height with a wingspan of 19 to 22 cm and weighing approximately 10.3 g. Its plumage is dull olive-gray on its back and whitish on its belly, notably brighter than the other Empidonax birds. The least flycatcher's wings are lined with two white bars, and white rings contour its eyes. Its beak is short and the lower mandible is yellowish. The juveniles look similar to the adults except that their wing bars are slightly darker, with tawny/olive hues. Because other flycatchers also have those field marks... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
LC

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Empidonax flaviventris

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Acadian Flycatcher
LC

Acadian Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Empidonax virescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Willow Flycatcher
LC

Willow Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Empidonax traillii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
LC

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Northern Bentbill
LC

Northern Bentbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Bright-rumped Attila
LC

Bright-rumped Attila

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Attila spadiceus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
LC

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Greenish Elaenia
LC

Greenish Elaenia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiopagis viridicata

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
LC

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elaenia flavogaster

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Stub-tailed Spadebill
LC

Stub-tailed Spadebill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platyrinchus cancrominus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~40%
2 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
3 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
4 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
5 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~20%
6 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
7 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
8 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
9 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
10 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
11 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
12 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~10%
13 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
14 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
15 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
16 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
17 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
18 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
19 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
20 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
27 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
28 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
29 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
31 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
33 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
34 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
35 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
36 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
37 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
38 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
39 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
40 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
41 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
42 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
43 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
44 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
45 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Least Flycatcher in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Least Flycatcher sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 164 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Least Flycatcher in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

January has the highest sighting rate for Least Flycatcher in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.

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