Flycatchers: Part I

Continuing with the series from my new book on Birds of the Western United States, we come to the Flycatchers.

First up the Ash-throated, Brown-crested, and Dusky-capped Flycatchers. These three flycatchers are very similar in plumage and they overlap in terms of range and habitat. This can make identifying them a bit tricky when all you get is a "glance." 

The Ash-throated has the widest range extending from west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California,   Utah, Nevada, and Oregon. It is larger than the Dusky-capped, but slightly smaller than the Brown-crested.  It is a little paler in color than the other two:

Ash-throated Flycatcher

The Brown-crested is the darkest of the three, but it's most distinguishing characteristic is its larger bill. It's range is the southern most tip of Texas and souther Arizona:

Brown-crested Flycatcher

 The Dusky-capped is the smallest of the three with a finer bill and brighter yellow in the belly and flanks. It also has the narrowest range of the three, only to be found in southeast Arizona:

Dusky-capped Flycatcher