Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)

Abundance: Very Uncommon; 10 records in 4 Regional counties, 2 in Kentucky and 2 in Tennessee, all but one involving a single individual (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during spring (9 records) and fall (1 record); photographs (see links below).

Regional High Count: 3 (23 May 2006; Dry Creek Unit, Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky; David L. Roemer).

Information on Records: 

14 May 1984 (1) site unspecified, Cumberland County, Tennessee (Betty Reid Campbell, James M. Campbell; Dubke and Dubke 1984).

28 May 2001 (1—heard) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Casteel 2001c).

11 May 2002 (1) Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton, Judy Brant; Busroe 2002c), a Spring Bird Count record.

11 May 2002 (1) Whetstone, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Scott Marsh, Rhonda Bryant), a Spring Bird Count record.

19 May 2004 (1) Ano strip mines, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2004c).

17 May 2005 (1—heard) Bud Tanner Rd., Mayland, Cumberland County, Tennessee (Joseph E. Mast).

20 & 23 May 2005 (1—heard) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman).

23/26 May 2006 (3/2) Dry Creek Unit, Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer/David L. Roemer, Robert Dever).

24–25 September 2006 (1—calling) Clifty Pond, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo [25 September 2006]).

16/18 May 2012 (1/2) Dry Creek Unity, Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer, David R. Brown, Stephen J. Stedman/David L. Roemer).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring: 11 May 2002 (Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton, Judy Brant; Busroe 2002c) and 11 May 2002 (Whetstone, Pulaski County, Kentucky; Scott Marsh, Rhonda Bryant)–28 May 2001 (Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman; Casteel 2001c).

    Fall: 24 September 2006 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton)–25 September 2006 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton photo). 

Habitat: Wet, brushy sites, often those also selected by Willow Flycatcher; at least three Regional records took place at sites where Willow Flycatchers were present simultaneously.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Remarks: A rather narrow window of occurrence during mid- to late May characterizes the spring migration of this species.  Fall migration through the Region undoubtedly takes place but has not yet been documented sufficiently well to know its period of occurrence.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited