Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Description:

Spotted in a desert floodplain in southern Arizona/Mexico border near the Chiricahua Mountains. Believed to be a southern Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii), though these birds can be very hard to identify. You can clearly see a white eyering and two bright white wingbars. The lower abdomen has a slight tinge of yellow, while upper abdomen is white with gray. The upper dorsal you can see a slight olive-gray coloration. Willow Flycatcher's live primarily in riparian habitats such as marsh lands, along rivers and floodplains, much like where this bird was seen. If it is in fact a Willow flycatcher, I would feel very honored to have seen one. I was not able to record it's song which would have been helpful.

Habitat:

Desert floodplain on AZ/Mexico border.